Democrat Chedrick Greene won a special state Senate election in Michigan on Tuesday, defeating Republican Jason Tunney, a former prosecutor, to replace Democratic U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet. The victory ensures Democrats retain control of the narrowly divided Michigan State Senate with a 20-18 majority.

Unofficial results show Greene secured 58.9 percent of the vote compared to Tunney’s 39.4 percent in Michigan’s 35th Senate District, which covers communities in Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties. With 94 percent of ballots counted, Greene led by more than 19 points. The district—located in the Saginaw Bay area—is central to President Donald Trump’s blue-collar coalition.

Greene, a Marine veteran and firefighter, outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris’ margin in this district during the 2024 presidential race, where Harris earned 50.4 percent of the vote versus Trump’s 49.6 percent. This win marks part of a growing trend during President Trump’s second term, with Democrats consistently exceeding Harris’ performance in special elections.

“We delivered this victory by listening and speaking to everyday people’s concerns about affordability, safety, and freedom,” Greene stated. “I am honored to have earned the trust of so many voters across SD35.”

Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, called the result a “decisive victory in one of the highest-stakes battleground districts in the country.” The district includes largely white, working-class communities with one-fifth to one-third of adults holding college degrees and encompasses significant manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Greene’s win strengthens Democrats’ position ahead of November’s midterm elections in Michigan—a state where Democrats currently control the governorship and hold a narrow Senate majority.