Democratic State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet’s victory in the race for Michigan’s eighth congressional district seat sets up a race for her old state Senate seat. The race is potentially a toss-up and will determine control of the chamber.
The current make-up of the state Senate is 20-18 in favor of the Democratic Party. If the GOP were to flip the seat, the Senate would be evenly split. The Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist would act as a tiebreaker.
The Statehouse is currently 58-52 in favor of the GOP. They ended two years of Democratic control of the state legislature by flipping four seats on election night.
McDonald Rivet won her race beating Republican Paul Junge. Despite her win, President-Elect Donald Trump won in every county in the district (Bay, Midland, Saginaw).
Several Statehouse members currently serve in the district. Democratic Party Rep. Amos 'O’Neal won re-election and serves Saginaw.
Republicans including Matt Beirlein (Vassar), Graham Filler (St. Johns), Timmy Beson (Bay City), and Bill G. Schuette (Midland) also represent cities in the district.
