Great Lakes Wire

Common Cause Michigan has urged Governor Gretchen Whitmer to set a date for the special election for the 35th Senate District seat, which has been vacant since January 3, 2025. The seat became vacant after then-Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet left her position to join Congress, leaving the district without representation for nearly four months.

"It is the governor’s duty to set a special election primary and general election dates," a spokesperson from Common Cause Michigan noted. The organization highlights that the governor has not provided an explanation for the delay, and without a set date, residents will miss the opportunity to elect a new senator in the upcoming May 6 election. Moreover, further delays could also affect the subsequent election scheduled for August 6.

Common Cause Michigan's Executive Director, Quentin Turner, criticized the situation, stating, "Michiganders don’t like it when their elected officials play partisan games. Governor Whitmer needs to rise above such tactics and set a date for the special election ASAP. The people of the 35th District deserve representation in Lansing." Turner also suggested that if the governor cannot resolve the issue soon, the legislature might need to intervene and amend the law to prevent similar delays in future special elections.