As we draw closer to the 2026 election, numerous controversies are bound to arise, ranging from minor to major. The situation at hand might not seem like one of those controversies initially, but perceptions may vary based on political perspectives and actions taken by Michigan’s governor, whose term lasts until December 31st, 2026.
Make sense? Good.
The narrative begins in Michigan’s 35th legislative Senate district. The former senator, a Democrat, shifted her career to Congress and consistently secured victories in the district by a margin of +4. Her departure, thus, left a significant void.
I read about this in a guest piece written for a left-of-center site right HERE:
It is imperative for Governor Gretchen Whitmer to organize a special election for this important seat. Yet, her lack of action has been noticeably absent. More than 130 days have passed since ex-Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet ascended to Congress, and months have elapsed since her official resignation from the Michigan Senate, leaving constituents without representation and in political uncertainty.
Recently, citizens from the Great Lakes Bay Region boarded buses and traveled to Lansing, demanding their right to full representation. They stood at the State Capitol Building, their message loud and clear, just ahead of the governor’s annual State of the State address. But did their voices reach her ears? So far, all we’ve gotten is silence.
Gretch has been a bit tardy in filling the seat, which has been a bit shocking for her. She, on average, would pick a date, or she fill the seat within 20 days, and she has not been a bit of a problem:
History shows that Gov. Whitmer is more than capable of moving swiftly when it suits her agenda. Over the past six years, she has called 10 special elections to fill legislative vacancies, typically taking an average of 17 days to announce them. Yet, in this case, she drags her feet.
Yikes.
She has even been a bit better than I was giving her credit for.
I did write about this back in March when it was still a bit of a new story, but it seems the governor is dragging her feet for some reason. Michigan Gov. Whitmer Is Not Scheduling a Special Election That Could Change Balance of Power in Senate
Why?
I explore one of the reasons in my article above, and repost it right here:
More about this right HERE.
Former state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House on Jan. 3, leaving the 35th District seat in the state Senate vacant. Wednesday marked 75 days since McDonald Rivet left the Senate, the longest Whitmer has delayed scheduling a special election for a seat in the state Legislature during her six years as governor, according to the conservative political group the Michigan Freedom Fund.
Whitmer’s office didn’t respond to multiple requests from The Detroit News this week asking about the governor’s handling of the vacancy.
Oh, and the person who is reported to run for the state Senate seat will run as a Republican against the Democrat?
The person that Whitmer defeated in the 2018 contest for governor, the one and only who is from that neck of the woods and has been elected to Congress in a previous life.
Huh, is that not odd?
Funny how that works, isn’t it?
Hopefully, the fine folks of the 35th Senate district can get Gretch off her farewell tour to schedule an election there and allow them to decide who should represent them.
That would be stellar.
