Updates About Legislature

Ten total individuals have declared to run for the vacant 35th Senate District seat prior to the September 30th filing deadline. Six Democrats and four Republicans will face off in their respective primaries set on February 3rd, 2026. The winners will then proceed to compete in the special general election held on May 5th, 2026. Representatives Bill Schuette (R-Midland) and Timmy Beson (R-Bay City) considered entering the race but ultimately chose to seek reelection to the House instead. Rep. Schuette was regarded as the best candidate for the Republicans to retake the seat in what is expected to be a tightly contested race.

Governor Whitmer recently called for the special election after receiving attacks from Republicans who were frustrated with the Governor for not calling the election sooner. The 35th Senate District includes parts of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties. With Democrats holding a 19-18 majority in the Senate, a Republican victory would create a 19-19 tie, requiring the lieutenant governor to cast tie-breaking votes. The winner of the special election will also have to defend the seat again just six months later in the regular election if they choose to run.

The list of the candidates for each part are as follows:

DEMOCRATS

• Brandell Adams (Bridgeport Township) - Saginaw County Democratic Party Chair
• Martin Blank (Saginaw) - a surgeon and former Republican candidate
• Chedrick Greene (Saginaw) - former Marine and current Saginaw Fire Captain
• Dr. William Morrone (Bay City) - medical director of Recovery Pathways
• Pamela Pugh (Saginaw) - State Board of Education Chair
• Serenity Salak (Saginaw) - former Eligibility Specialist

REPUBLICANS

• Jason Tunney (Saginaw) - attorney
• Chadwick Twillman (Saginaw) - businessperson
• Christian Velasquez ( Midland) - former Dow executive
• Andrew Wendt (Saginaw) - former Saginaw City Commissioner

For more election-related news, see 2026 STATE ELECTION UPDATES

According to a statement released by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director, Elizabeth Hertel, the meager budget passed by House Republicans would have dire consequences on Michigan residents. Hertel highlighted that the budget’s $4.95 billion reduction in MDHHS funding would lead to significant staff reductions impacting child protective services workers, benefits specialists, disease specialists, and fraud, waste, and abuse investigators.

The director also reported that the budget cuts would curb certain service programs such as removing $20 million in adult dental coverage, $10 million to hospitals for maternal health care, $7 million for the Office of Community Violence and their gun violence reduction efforts, $6.8 million to state psychiatric hospitals, and $4 million toward addressing homelessness.

Hertel stressed that the eliminated funding would negatively impact behavioral health services by increasing wait times and decreasing the state’s patient capacity capabilities. The cuts would also erase Medicaid coverage for approximately 33% of residents in rural communities, placing an extra burden on local hospitals and resources posed with absorbing the costs of their care.

A new report from AdImpact projects that in the next 14 months leading up to the 2026 Michigan midterm elections, $936 million is expected to be spent in political advertising. The open gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races are contributing factors to the considerable ad spending. Pending ballot eligibility for several petition initiatives could further intensify political expenses.

The U.S. Senate race to replace Senator Gary Peters (D- Bloomfield Township), is expected to be one of the most expensive upcoming races in the country. AdImpact reports that over $220 million was spent on Michigan’s 2024 U.S. Senate election, with projections for 2026 topping $500 million.

Heavy spending is likely in competitive state Senate and House districts, as well as the gubernatorial race. The Michigan Legislature races are predicted to be the second highest in the nation, with $56.9 million expected to be spent on advertisements. The race for governor, currently recognized as a toss-up, is forecasted to be the highest cost gubernatorial race nationwide with a projected $152 million. Compared to the 2022 cycle, similar competitive races drew $80 million.