With McDonald Rivet heading to Congress, who will fill her open Michigan Senate seat? • Michigan Advance

State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet monitors election results in her campaign for Congress during a primary election night watch party in Saginaw, Mich., on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) has emerged victorious in her bid for Congress, defeating former prosecutor Paul Junge.

McDonald Rivet had an almost 7-point lead with 99% of unofficial returns in, and will replace U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) in January to represent the 8th Congressional District.

McDonald Rivet defends Michigan’s 8th Congressional District for Democrats

However, her win could place Michigan Senate Democrats next year in a precarious position, as they’ll be left with a razor-thin, one-person majority over Republicans. The Senate is currently split 20-18.

Following McDonald Rivet’s resignation, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is charged with calling a special election to fill her vacant seat in the 35th Senate District. A Whitmer spokesperson did not return a request for comment about what timeline the governor is considering for the election.

As a swing seat, it’s expected to be a hotly contested race with the potential to split the Senate 19-19, leaving Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II as the tie-breaking vote on any legislation.

“There are a number of really strong [Democratic] candidates that I think are very interested. Obviously, we have to let the dust settle. It’s not even an issue until I resign, which will not be until the end of the year,” McDonald Rivet told the Advance on Thursday at the Michigan Capitol, saying she would do everything she could to elect a Democrat to that seat.

One person who doesn’t appear to be interested is Kildee’s chief of staff, Mitch Rivard, a Bay City native.

Michigan’s 35th Senate District overlaps five State House Districts: the 93rd House District represented by Rep. Graham Filler (R-St. Johns), the 94th House District represented by Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw), the 95th House District represented by Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland), the 96th House District represented by Rep. Timmy Beson (R-Bay City) and the 97th House District represented by Rep. Matt Bierlein (R-Vassar). Next year’s special election could serve as an opportunity should any of these representatives seek to make the move into the upper chamber.

Former state Rep. Annette Glenn (R-Midland), who unsuccessfully ran against McDonald Rivet in 2022, is also eligible should she decide to run again.

While reporters asked Schuette on Thursday if he was interested in seeking McDonald Rivet’s seat, Schuette demurred.

“There will be a time for all these discussions about future elections. We just got [Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.)] elected [House speaker], and then we’ve got deer [hunting] season coming up. We got lame duck. So there’ll be a time for those elections.”

Filler, who did not seek reelection to the House in 2024, told the Advance he had no comment as of right now.

O’Neal told the Advance he was considering all options, but hadn’t made any concrete decisions, though a bid for the seat could potentially be on the table.

“Gotta see how the landscape lays. You know, with this big wave of red all the way through the state, you have to consider all those things,” O’Neal said, in reference to Republicans taking the majority in the House, flipping four seats for a 58-52 majority in the 2025-26 Legislative session.

Sarah Schulz, who ran for state representative against Glenn in 2018 and 2020, told the Advance she’d been asked multiple times if she would run in the special election, but that she was waiting to see how things played out with the Democratic Party.

“This isn’t something that I am sort of like, super ambitious for and yet, I’m also kind of seeing what our community needs and if there’s a need that I can fill,” Schulz said.

“I’ve heard other names, and I’m happy for the right Democrat to put their hat in the ring, and that doesn’t have to be me,” Schulz said.

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by Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance November 9, 2024

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Kyle Davidson covers state government alongside health care, business and the environment. A graduate of Michigan State University, Kyle studied journalism and political science. He previously covered community events, breaking news, state policy and the environment for outlets including the Lansing State Journal, the Detroit Free Press and Capital News Service.

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