Democrat Chedrick Greene won a special state Senate election in Michigan on Tuesday, defeating Republican Jason Tunney by 58.9 percent to 39.4 percent.

The victory ensures Democrats retain control of the narrowly divided Michigan State Senate and extends their hold on the state governorship. Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, unseated Tunney, a former prosecutor, in the race to replace Democratic U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet—who resigned from the state Senate after being elected to Congress in 2024.

Greene’s win in Michigan’s 35th Senate District, which covers communities in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties, comes with 94 percent of votes counted. He led Tunney by more than 19 points in the district, a region historically pivotal to President Donald Trump’s blue-collar coalition. In contrast, former Vice President Kamala Harris won this same district by just over 1,000 votes (50.4 percent) to Donald Trump’s 49.6 percent during the 2024 presidential race.

The district features a predominantly working-class population with Saginaw City housing a sizable Black community and between one-fifth and one-third of adults holding college degrees. It encompasses manufacturing and agricultural industries critical to regional employment.

Greene emphasized his connection to voters: “We delivered this decisive victory by listening and speaking to the things keeping everyday people up at night — worries about affordability, safety, and freedom. I am honored to have earned the trust of so many voters across SD35.” He added: “I am excited to go to Lansing to fight for every policy and dollar that helps hardworking men and women build better lives here in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties and sets our kids up for brighter futures.”

Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, stated: “Chedrick Greene just rounded out our special election season with a decisive victory in one of the highest-stakes battleground districts in the country.”

Historic trends show the party holding the White House typically underperforms in midterm cycles. Tuesday’s results have raised concerns for Michigan Republicans as Democrats consolidate their position in a key battleground state. President Donald Trump faces record-high disapproval ratings amid high fuel prices linked to ongoing U.S. war efforts in Iran and persistent economic inflation.