January 24th-February 6th, 2026

On Tuesday, February 3rd, the Special Election Primary was held for the 35th District State Senate seat. Former Marine and current Saginaw fire captain Chadwick Greene won the Democratic primary with approximately 60% of the vote, beating out Michigan Board of Education President Pamela Pugh, who finished with around 28% of the vote, with the four other candidates capturing the remaining votes.

On the Republican side, Saginaw Attorney Jason Tunney won in a tighter race, beating out Engineer and former Dow executive Christian Velasquez 51% to 43%. The other two candidates made up for the remaining 7%.

The 35th district seat was vacated in January 2025, following the swearing-in of former incumbent Kristen McDonald Rivet (D–Bay City) to the U.S. House of Representatives. The special general election between Greene and Tunney is scheduled in May.

Starting in the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year, the federal government is switching from a 50/50 split in covering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administration costs to 75/25, meaning that states will have to pitch in more for the program. The cost to run SNAP in Michigan for FY 2024-2025 was $382.7 million, under the 50/50 split Michigan covered $191.4 million. This number is projected to increase by $95 million in the coming fiscal cycle to approximately $287 million.

Additionally, due to the federal government penalization for states that have a 6% or higher SNAP error rate, the total cost for the Michigan SNAP program could be around $768 million if the state’s error rate is in the highest penalization bracket. Michigan’s current SNAP error rate is 9.53%, just shy of the 10+% error rate that qualifies for the maximum penalty. According to the new regulations, if Michigan’s error rate remains the same, the total cost for the SNAP program in the state would be $607 million ($287 million in upfront costs and a $320 million penalty).

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced a $320,000 grant from the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF) to sustain and expand SEAL! Michigan, the state’s school-based dental sealant program. Over the last 15 years, DDF has contributed over $3 million to support SEAL! Michigan and water fluoridation efforts across the state.

The funding will help expand outreach and impact more students through preventive dental care, including screenings and sealant placement that help prevent cavities, reduce pain, and minimize missed school days.

Recently, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) will be under new leadership.

Now serving as acting director for the DTMB is Kyle Guerrant, replacing Michelle Lange. Guerrant left his position as deputy state budget director to accept the new job. He previously served as deputy superintendent of finance and operations for the Michigan Department of Education, interim director of state school reform in 2018, director of the Office of School Support Services at the department as well as acting manager of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program at the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Former State Representative Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon) was promoted from deputy director to director of the MVAA following the dismissal of Brian Love. Sabo served as State Rep. from 2017 to 2022. Prior to his election he served as Muskegon County Commissioner, and Muskegon County Road Commissioner. Before entering politics, Sabo was a police officer and fire fighter for over 25 years, and also served in the Air Force. He also volunteers with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.