
Why Is Gretchen Whitmer Holding Up a Special Election in Michigan?
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has waited more than 210 days to call a special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat, leaving 270,000 residents without representation—and opening a fierce political fight over what critics call a calculated delay to maintain partisan control.
The 35th District seat, which spans parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties, has remained unfilled since Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet resigned to join Congress in January. While Whitmer, a Democrat, holds the sole authority to call a special election, she has offered no timeline or explanation, saying only that an announcement will come "in the near future."
Newsweek reached out to the governor's office for comment on Monday. No response was received by publication time.
Map shows Michigan's 35th senate district.
Map shows Michigan's 35th senate district.
WIKIMEDIA/CREATIVE COMMONS
The delay has triggered mounting criticism from Republicans, nonpartisan groups, and even local election officials—each accusing the governor of stalling for political advantage in a closely divided state senate, where Democrats now hold a fragile 19-18 majority.
"This is a failure of leadership and a dereliction of duty," Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt said in a statement to Newsweek. "The seat has been vacant for over 200 days, leaving 270,000 Michiganders without a voice in the Senate. The governor has had plenty of time to act, as she did swiftly for other vacancies when it suited her party's interests."
Nesbitt said the implications extend far beyond optics. "We're missing out on critical debates over the state budget, road funding, education and more," he said. "The absence of a senator means no vote on the Senate floor, no representation on committees, and no advocate for the unique needs of the Great Lakes Bay Region. Governor Whitmer must stop treating these citizens as pawns in her political game and call the damn vote."
A Calculated Delay
Democrats won the seat in 2022 for the first time in years, but political observers say the district could easily flip back to the GOP—particularly in a low-turnout special election. That's precisely why many suspect the governor is waiting.
"The political calculus is complex," said Jesse Donahue, a political science professor at Saginaw Valley State University, which is in the 35th. "This district is one of a small number of competitive districts in the country. Democrats won it last time, but it could easily swing back."
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a policy speech at an event on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Washington.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a policy speech at an event on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Washington.
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Donahue said the timing of an election could be decisive. "Republican candidates would likely benefit from a special election with low turnout, when older voters dominate," she said. "An election date with higher turnout rates would help Democratic candidates. It wouldn't guarantee a win, but it improves their chances."
Critics also point to the governor's swift action in calling special elections to replace Democratic House members Kevin Coleman and Lori Stone last year—when delay would have frozen the chamber in a partisan tie. That prompt response stands in contrast to her inaction on the 35th district's vacant seat.
The voting rights group Common Cause Michigan said the governor's inaction has now gone beyond political gamesmanship and undermines democratic rights.
"For thousands of Michiganders, today is a reminder that the governor does not believe they deserve representation in the State Senate," Quentin Turner, executive director of Common Cause Michigan, said in a statement shared with Newsweek on Tuesday, which marked what could have been Election Day had Whitmer scheduled one.
"Set the election date, hold the election, and give all voters the representation that is their constitutional right," Turner said. "Her own lieutenant governor and the attorney general agree—call the election."
The group noted that the governor has previously set special election dates without delay, and the continued silence deprives voters of a voice during active legislative sessions. "We strongly encourage her to set a special election date as soon as possible," the group said in a public call to action.
Local Officials Left in the Dark
Meanwhile, county clerks say the uncertainty is complicating operations. Bay County Clerk Katie Zanotti, a Democrat, told Bridge Michigan last week that her office has received "radio silence" from the state and warned that any last-minute call for a 2025 election would force local officials into a "mad dash."
Some Democrats have also expressed frustration. Brandell Adams, chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party and a declared candidate for the seat, called the delay "egregious" and noted residents are "being taxed, but have no representative." Pamela Pugh, chair of the Michigan State Board of Education and another candidate, urged the governor to act: "We are asking her to prioritize us. This district. A district that has great needs."
A man crosses the street in front of the state capital building in downtown Lansing on April 01, 2024 in Lansing, Michigan.
A man crosses the street in front of the state capital building in downtown Lansing on April 01, 2024 in Lansing, Michigan.The legal framework giving Whitmer broad discretion to call special elections is not new—but the consequences in this case have drawn renewed attention to potential reforms.
In 2021, a bipartisan bill passed both chambers of the Legislature to require governors to announce within 30 days whether they'll hold a special election. Whitmer vetoed it, saying she would not "tie the hands of future Michigan governors." A similar proposal introduced this year by Representative Bill G. Schuette has not received a hearing.
Despite the silence from Whitmer's office, those watching the calendar closely say the political cost of inaction may soon outweigh any strategic advantage.
"She's prioritizing her party's control over the rights of 270,000 constituents," Nesbitt said. "This isn't leadership—it's an affront to the basic values of our country."
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