MID MICHIGAN — Democratic candidate Chedrick Greene scored a landslide victory in a special election that decided effective control of the Michigan State Senate. The seat once held by now-Congresswoman Kristen McDonald-Rivet was open after her election to Congress in 2024.
The seat was widely expected to be competitive with Republicans having the ability to flip the seat and end Democratic control of the Michigan Senate. However, Mr. Greene romped to a landslide victory of over 20 points – besting the Republican candidate. For Democrats, this seat was another over performance with Greene outperforming expectations and even Barack Obama’s 2008 numbers in places.
The shift was seen in both normally Democratic and Republic Party areas. In Bay County, a working class area, Greene over performed Kamala Harris by 20 points in Beaver Township, 27 points in Kawkawlin Township and 27 points in Auburn – winning a city that President Trump won by 17 points by a 10 point margin.
In the city of Saginaw, Greene won by an impressive 66 point margin – 15 points better than Harris did in 2024. In Bay City, a working class and heavily Catholic city, Greene won by 42 points which bested the 7 point win by Kamala Harris and even the 34 point win by Barack Obama in 2008.
Finally, in the city of Midland, Greene won by 26 point margin. This is better than any winning margin by a Presidential nominee since 2008. and a 39 point movement towards the Democratic Party since Mitt Romney won the city by 13 points in 2012.
