More than six months have passed since Michigan’s 35th state Senate seat was vacated, and candidates from both parties are already campaigning, but a special election date still hasn’t been announced.
The seat, which covers portions of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties, was left open in January when former Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned to join Congress. While Governor Gretchen Whitmer has said she intends to call a special election, no timeline has been announced.
Democrat Pamela Pugh, president of the Michigan State Board of Education, launched her campaign on July 17. She said her platform centers on protecting public education, strengthening communities and supporting small businesses.
“I’m running to put power back in the hands of the people,” Pugh said in a statement. “I’ve stood up for our communities—and stood up to anyone, and any policy, that’s written us off. And I haven’t backed down. I’ve worked to clean up neighborhoods while creating real economic opportunity because progress should serve people and support our businesses, without leaving either behind.”
Her campaign focuses on public health, education equity and economic development across the district. Pugh is calling for policies that expand opportunity, promote safety, and improve environmental and health outcomes in underserved communities.
According to her campaign website, she is also prioritizing access to reproductive healthcare, climate resilience and a “quality education system that supports every child.”
Brandell Adams, chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party and a former Bridgeport Township trustee, is also seeking the seat. His campaign centers on investment in working-class communities, support for unions and rural development.
“I’m running to make sure Mid-Michigan’s concerns are finally heard in the state Senate,” Adams said in a statement.
He said that his time in local government taught him the importance of balanced budgets and community growth.
“It’s time to send a fighter to Lansing – someone who won’t settle for business as usual,” Adams said.
Adams said on his website that he has worked closely with second-chance learners and at-risk youth in Saginaw County, drawing from his own experience growing up in poverty and foster care. He also serves as chair of the Michigan Board of Psychology’s Disciplinary Committee.
Republican Chadwick Twillman, a business leader in Saginaw, is also in the race. His campaign includes a proposed $100 million investment in infrastructure as well as $50 million toward school funding, teacher recruitment and vocational training.
Twillman said his conversations with local residents reinforced his decision to run.
“I talked to an older gentleman, he's a farmer here in Saginaw, and man, they just really need some help. They have no representation,” Twillman told WCMU.
On his campaign website, Twillman said he is a “Republican with independence” and emphasizes his identity as a business executive, former truck driver and father of five.
He said his priorities include fixing roads and bridges, improving court efficiency, supporting trade education and capping toll rates in Bay City.
Twillman also said he plans to propose legislation that would limit future Senate vacancies to no more than 60 days without a special election.
The 35th District is considered a swing district and the outcome of the special election could shift the balance of power in the Michigan Senate, where Democrats currently hold a narrow 19-18 majority.
Under Michigan law, Whitmer is solely responsible for calling a special election, which can be scheduled in May, August or November. This is the longest she’s waited to set a date for a special election during her time in office.
