Election observers say redistricting efforts appear to have made a difference in last night’s election results. The impact was seen in the new 35th senate district, where a democrat won in the Tri-City area.
Midland’s majority showed up for republican Annette Glenn while Bay City was a toss up. That left Saginaw to give democrat Kristen McDonald-Rivet the senate seat.
Dave Clark is the editor-in-chief of the Midland Daily News.
He said redistricting efforts have made campaigns more competitive.
“The ability to have the state Senate seat draw from Midland, the city and Saginaw, not just the counties but the cities themselves, I think that was a game changer here,” he said.
Clark said the election proved Central Michigan is now a purple region in the state after years of being reliably republican.
“Democrats and Republicans in the future are going to have to work really hard to earn those votes,” he said.
Annette Glenn had a lawsuit filed against her during the primary election, which Clark said could have contributed to democrats taking the win in Saginaw.
