Great Lakes Wire

Two Democratic candidates have formed campaign finance committees to run for the vacant 35th Senate District seat in Michigan. The seat has been unfilled since January 3, when former State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) left to join Congress. More than 200 days later, a special election date has not been set.

The new Democratic contenders are Brandell Adams, chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party since November 2024, and Chedrick Greene, a captain with the Saginaw Fire Department. Adams was appointed as Bridgeport Township trustee in 2021 and has since won reelection twice. He also serves on the Michigan Board of Psychology by appointment from Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Greene’s candidate committee was filed with the Secretary of State on July 30. Greene is a retired command senior enlisted leader for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and serves on the executive board of the International Association of Firefighters Local 102. He is also part of Saginaw Valley State University’s Henry March Institute for Public Policy (HMIPP) cohort for 2025. HMIPP was established in 2011 to provide training in campaign work and governance for people in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

A recent poll referenced a Cameron Johnson, but details matched Greene’s biography rather than anyone named Johnson.

Adams and Greene would compete against Pamela Pugh, president of the State Board of Education, in a Democratic primary. From May 16 through July 20, Pugh received $17,681 in contributions and spent $3,496 toward her campaign. These filings are being tracked as part of the broader fundraising activities ahead of Michigan's next state Senate elections in 2026.

When a governor calls a special election, deadlines are set for filing affidavits and submitting nominating petitions or fees. Legislators who have recently run both special and regular elections often continue using their original campaign finance accounts.

As of now, Governor Whitmer has not called a special election to fill McDonald Rivet’s former seat after more than seven months.

If an election were announced soon, observers expect two-term Republican Representative Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) to enter the race. Schuette’s House candidate committee reports significant fundraising activity: he raised $119,162 after last November's elections and had $152,482 cash on hand as of July 20. He reported raising another $100,000 at a recent fundraiser.

Representative Timothy Beson (R-Bay City) has also shown interest in running for SD-35.

“For too long, our district has lacked an advocate in the state Senate. Now, more than ever, we need leadership rooted in real life experiences of working people,” said Adams in a campaign video. “Democrats hold the Senate majority by one seat, and I feel an urgency to protect it. The GOP, fueled by extreme MAGA ideology, will be well-funded and will do anything to win this seat.”

Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter

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