Whitmer calls special election for long-vacant seat

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Friday calling for a special election for Michigan’s 35th Senate District.

The seat sat empty for nearly eight months, or 238 days. The special election won’t take place for another 246 days on May 5, meaning the seat will sit empty for a total of 474 days.

This prolonged vacancy has become a rallying cry for Republicans, who labeled the situation “taxation without representation” for the residents of the district.

“For eight months, 270,000 Michiganders were left without representation, and even after being sued to call an election, it won’t take place until May 5 — another six months away,” said U.S. Rep. John James, R-MI, following Whitmer’s announcement. “This was intentional, blindingly partisan and malicious and this abuse of power won’t be forgotten.”

Even some Democrats expressed concern with the delay.

The 35th Senate District was long a Republican stronghold, but was won by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet in 2022. When Rivet was elected to the U.S. Congress last November, she officially resigned from the seat.

Whitmer provided no explanation for the delay in her letter to Benson.

“We have a lot of good work to get done before the end of next year,” Whitmer said. “Michiganders want us to create jobs and grow the economy, invest in schools and boost literacy rates, and, of course, fix those damn roads. I look forward to working with the next state senator from this district to tackle these issues and more.”

The 35th Senate District includes parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties.

Republicans said that Whitmer delayed calling the election due to fears that the seat would flip back to Republicans, a risky possibility with the current make-up of the state government.

Republicans hold the House by a slim majority of just six seats. In the Senate, Democrats hold a majority of just one.

“Why act like an entitled monarch? She wanted to preserve Democrats' fragile 19-18 Senate majority amid growing bipartisan backlash,” said Kevin Kijewski, 2026 Republican candidate for Michigan’s attorney general. “She dragged this out solely for her party's advantage . . . the voters will not forget.”

In August, a group of voters sued Whitmer for not yet calling the election. The lawsuit sought to compel Whitmer to call a special election to fill the vacancy.

The primary election will be held on Feb. 3, 2026 and the general election will be held on May 5, 2026.

“Secretary Benson and the Michigan Bureau of Elections are ready to work with the local election officials to administer the February 3 primary and May 5 general election,” said the Michigan Department of State in a statement.