my-server
← Wiki

2026 Michigan Senate election

The 2026 Michigan Senate election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect all 38 members to the Michigan Senate. The election will coincide with for all of Michigan's constitutional offices: governor, attorney general, secretary of state and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. Seats in the Michigan Senate were last elected in 2022.

Background

Under the Michigan Constitution, state representatives and senators are limited to twelve years combined in either chamber of the legislature, after voters approved on November 8, 2022, a constitutional amendment that revised term limits. Michigan has what are considered the toughest term limits in the country.

In the previous election, Democrats gained four seats, winning control of the chamber for the first time since 1984.

In 2023, several districts in the metro Detroit area were struck down as unconstitutional and the redistricting panel was ordered to draw new maps that could be used. A final map was chosen in July 2024 and new district lines will be in effect for the 2026 elections.

Predictions

Outgoing incumbents

Term limited

In total, 8 Democrats and 10 Republicans are term-limited.

Retiring

Seeking other office

Special election

District 35

Following the resignation of Kristen McDonald Rivet, who resigned to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives, a special election will take place to fill the vacancy. Primary elections took place on February 3, 2026, and the general election will take place on May 5, 2026. Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer was criticized for the long delay between Rivet's resignation and the calling of the special election, which has left the seat vacant for over a year. This election is considered important because if Republicans win the general election, then the Michigan Senate would become tied.

Six Democrats ran in their primary, with Pamela Pugh and Chedrick Greene considered to be the frontrunners. Pugh, the president of the Michigan Board of Education, was considered to be the more progressive candidate and had the backing of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib and multiple state legislators. Greene, a Saginaw fire captain, had the backing of numerous labor unions and Kristen McDonald Rivet, the district's most recent senator. Greene went on to win the primary by 33%. Four Republicans ran for their nomination, with attorney Jason Tunney and businessman Christian Velasquez emerging as the frontrunners. Tunney went on to win the primary by 9%.

Nominee

  • Chedrick Greene, Saginaw fire captain

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

Nominee

  • Jason Tunney, attorney

Eliminated in primary

  • Chadwick Twillman, businessman
  • Christian Velasquez, businessman
  • Andrew Wendt, former Saginaw city councilor

Declined

Endorsements

Results summary

† - Incumbent not seeking re-election or term-limited

District 1

The incumbent Democrat Erika Geiss, who was re-elected with 71.57% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Democratic primary

Declared

Endorsements

District 2

The incumbent Democrat Sylvia Santana, who was re-elected with 67.99% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Democratic primary

Declared

Endorsements

District 3

The incumbent Democrat Stephanie Chang, who was re-elected with 85.67% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Democratic primary

Declared

Filed paperwork

  • LeJuan Council
  • LaTanya Garrett
  • Kimberly Hill Knott
  • Theodore Jones
  • Toinu Reeves

Endorsements

District 4

The incumbent Democrat Darrin Camilleri, who was elected with 55.34% of the vote in 2022, is seeking re-election.

Democratic primary

Declared

Endorsements

Republican primary

Declared

  • Marcie Grzywacz, Rockwood city councilor (2023–present)

District 5

The incumbent Democrat Dayna Polehanki, who was re-elected with 61.07% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election but was moved into the 8th district as a result of redistricting.

Democratic primary

Declared

District 6

The incumbent Democrat Mary Cavanagh, who was elected with 68.01% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

District 7

The incumbent Democrat Jeremy Moss, who was re-elected with 74.21% of the vote in 2022, is term limited and running for Congress.

Democratic primary

Declared

Filed paperwork

District 8

The incumbent Democrat Mallory McMorrow, who was re-elected with 78.94% of the vote in 2022, is retiring to run for U.S. Senate. Fellow Democratic state senator Dayna Polehanki was moved into this district as a result of redistricting.

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

District 9

The incumbent Republican Michael Webber, who was re-elected with 50.35% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Republican primary

Filed paperwork

Democratic primary

Declared

Independents

Declared

  • Philippe Cicchini

District 10

The incumbent Democrat Paul Wojno, who was re-elected with 67.70% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Democratic primary

Declared

Filed paperwork

  • Amanda Treppa, member of the Royal Oak Local Officers Compensation Committee

Endorsements

Republican primary

Filed paperwork

District 11

The incumbent Democrat Veronica Klinefelt, who was elected with 52.69% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

Republican primary

Declared

  • Johnnie Townsend

District 12

The incumbent Democrat Kevin Hertel, who was elected with 50.2% of the vote in 2022, is running for re-election.

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Kevin Hertel, incumbent state senator (2023–present)

Republican primary

Declared

  • Shelley Wright, businesswoman

Filed paperwork

  • Patrick Shawn Biange
  • John Goldwater
  • Eileen Tesch

Endorsements

District 13

The incumbent Democrat Rosemary Bayer, who was re-elected with 57.17% in 2022, is retiring.

Democratic primary

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Republican primary

Declared

District 14

The incumbent Democrat, Sue Shink, who was re-elected with 55.80% of the vote in 2022, is running for re-election.

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Sue Shink, incumbent state senator (2023–present)

Republican primary

Withdrawn

  • Brandon Bradley

Endorsements

District 15

The incumbent Democrat Jeff Irwin, who was re-elected with 74.15% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Democratic primary

Declared

Filed paperwork

  • Michael White

District 16

The incumbent Republican Joe Bellino, who was elected with 65.01% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Republican primary

Declared

  • Joe Bellino, incumbent state senator (2023–present)

District 18

The incumbent Republican Thomas Albert, who was elected with 61.96% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Republican primary

Potential

  • Thomas Albert, incumbent state senator (2023–present)

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Anthony Pennock

District 19

The incumbent Democrat Sean McCann, who was re-elected with 59.79% of the vote in 2022, is term limited and running for U.S. House.

Democratic primary

Declared

District 20

The incumbent Republican Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, who was re-elected with 60.95% of the vote in 2022, is term limited and running for governor.

Republican primary

Declared

  • Kenny Clevenger, Casco Township treasurer (2021–present) and former Allegan County Republican party chairman (2022–2025)
  • Chris Moraitis, attorney

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Dale Murney

District 22

The incumbent Republican, Lana Theis, who was re-elected with 60.68% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Rob Hower, small business owner

District 23

The incumbent Republican, Jim Runestad, who was re-elected with 59.38% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Greg Hill

District 24

The incumbent Republican, Ruth Johnson, who was re-elected with 65.80% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

District 25

The incumbent Republican, Dan Lauwers, who was re-elected with 66.83% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Filed paperwork

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • April Ozentowski

District 26

The incumbent Republican, Kevin Daley, who was re-elected with 62.45% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Democratic primary

Declared

  • John Hall, veteran and retired teacher
  • Brendan J. Johnson

District 27

The incumbent Democrat John Cherry, who was elected with 64.09% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Democratic primary

Potential

  • John Cherry III, incumbent state senator (2023–present)

Republican primary

Declared

District 28

The incumbent Democrat Sam Singh, who was elected with 55.80% of the vote in 2022, is retiring.

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Mark Polsdofer, Ingham County commissioner from the 14th district (2019–present)

Declined

  • Sam Singh, incumbent state senator (2023–present)

District 29

The incumbent Democratic Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, who was re-elected with 60.30% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Democratic primary

Declared

Filed paperwork

District 30

The incumbent Republican, Mark Huizenga, who was re-elected with 49.18% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for a second full term after being initially elected via the 2021 Michigan Senate special election.

Republican primary

Declared

  • Mark Huizenga, incumbent state senator (2021–present)

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Carol Glanville, state representative from the 84th district (2022–present)
  • Rickie Kreuzer, nonprofit executive director and member of the Michigan State Board of Nursing

Endorsements

District 31

The incumbent Republican, Roger Victory, who was re-elected with 62.11% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Filed paperwork

  • Kevin Maas

Democratic primary

Declared

District 32

The incumbent Republican, Jon Bumstead, who was re-elected with 52.83% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Endorsements

Democratic primary

Declared

Endorsements

District 33

The incumbent Republican, Rick Outman, who was re-elected with 66.25% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Endorsements

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Stan Opal

District 34

The incumbent Republican, Roger Hauck, who was elected with 64.35% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Republican primary

Filed paperwork

  • Roger Hauck, incumbent state senator (2023–present)
  • Rhonda Lange, realtor and member of the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission

District 35

The Democratic state senator from this seat, Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives, a special election will take place to fill the vacancy. She was elected with 53.38% of the vote in 2022.

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Serenity Hope Salak, substitute teacher and candidate for this seat in the special election

Filed paperwork

  • Chedrick Greene, Democratic nominee for this seat in the special election

Withdrawn

Republican primary

Declared

  • Chadwick Twillman, businessman and candidate for this seat in the special election

District 36

The incumbent Republican, Michele Hoitenga, who was elected with 66.26% of the vote in 2022, is running for re-election.

Republican primary

Declared

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Mark Yonkman

District 37

The incumbent Republican, John Damoose, who was elected with 55.46% of the vote in 2022, is eligible for re-election.

Republican primary

Filed paperwork

  • John Damoose, incumbent state senator (2022–present)

Democratic primary

Filed paperwork

  • Kate Gallup

District 38

The incumbent Republican, Ed McBroom, who was re-elected with 62.23% of the vote in 2022, is term limited.

Republican primary

Declared

Withdrawn

Filed paperwork

Endorsements

Democratic primary

Declared

  • Kelli van Ginhoven, vice chair of the Delta County Board of Commissioners from the 4th district
  • Chris Mapps, veteran

Withdrawn

  • Jake La Jeunesse, teacher

Notes

References

External links

Official campaign websites for 1st district candidates

Official campaign websites for 2nd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 3rd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 4th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 5th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 7th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 9th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 10th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 12th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 13th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 14th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 15th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 19th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 20th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 22nd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 23rd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 24th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 26th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 27th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 29th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 30th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 31st district candidates

Official campaign websites for 32nd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 33rd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 35th district special election candidates

Official campaign websites for 38th district candidates