Michigan Democrats appear hesitant to expand early voting when it could help GOP in state race
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
A shortage of funds in two central Michigan counties could have widespread implications in a special election for a state legislature seat, potentially handing Democrats a decisive advantage in a race that could decide control of the state’s upper chamber.
Democrats currently control the Michigan Senate by a margin of one seat. That could change on May 5, when a special election to fill a vacancy in the chamber is set to take place in the state’s 35th Senate District. The district contains three counties: Saginaw, Bay, and Midland. Saginaw, the most Democratic of the three counties, has opted to have early in-person voting for the May election. Midland and Bay counties, which both lean more toward the GOP, meanwhile, have chosen not to do so, citing financial concerns.
In 2022, the last year a state Senate election was held in the district, the Democratic nominee won Saginaw — the most populous of the three counties — by a margin of 61% to 39%. The Republican, meanwhile, won Midland comfortably, and Bay was split roughly in half.
Given the collapse of support Republicans have seen in recent cycles when Trump isn’t on the ballot, and the historic underperformance of the party in the White House during midterm elections, Saginaw could remain blue in May despite narrowly flipping red in 2024.
This may give local Republicans cause for concern as the county’s early voting could net Democrats additional votes, a potentially decisive factor in the swing district.
Local leaders, even those in Saginaw, are pushing for state funding so that early voting can occur throughout the entire district.
In January, local officials penned a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) requesting special election funding.
“We, the undersigned, are seeking your assistance with a Supplemental Appropriation to cover the costs our local governments will incur because of the special Primary Election and special General Election for this legislative seat,” the letter reads. “Our municipalities work tirelessly to manage our limited financial resources for our residents, resources even more constrained now due to recent budget cuts. The 35th Senate Seat represents 270,000 residents in three counties, and we believe that the cost of these two Special Elections for the State Senate seat should be paid for by the State of Michigan.”
Officials from all three counties reportedly signed on to the letter.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a policy speech at an event, April 9, 2025, …
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
A shortage of funds in two central Michigan counties could have widespread implications in a special election for a state legislature seat, potentially handing Democrats a decisive advantage in a race that could decide control of the state’s upper chamber.
Democrats currently control the Michigan Senate by a margin of one seat. That could change on May 5, when a special election to fill a vacancy in the chamber is set to take place in the state’s 35th Senate District. The district contains three counties: Saginaw, Bay, and Midland. Saginaw, the most Democratic of the three counties, has opted to have early in-person voting for the May election. Midland and Bay counties, which both lean more toward the GOP, meanwhile, have chosen not to do so, citing financial concerns.
In 2022, the last year a state Senate election was held in the district, the Democratic nominee won Saginaw — the most populous of the three counties — by a margin of 61% to 39%. The Republican, meanwhile, won Midland comfortably, and Bay was split roughly in half.
Given the collapse of support Republicans have seen in recent cycles when Trump isn’t on the ballot, and the historic underperformance of the party in the White House during midterm elections, Saginaw could remain blue in May despite narrowly flipping red in 2024.
This may give local Republicans cause for concern as the county’s early voting could net Democrats additional votes, a potentially decisive factor in the swing district.
Local leaders, even those in Saginaw, are pushing for state funding so that early voting can occur throughout the entire district.
In January, local officials penned a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) requesting special election funding.
“We, the undersigned, are seeking your assistance with a Supplemental Appropriation to cover the costs our local governments will incur because of the special Primary Election and special General Election for this legislative seat,” the letter reads. “Our municipalities work tirelessly to manage our limited financial resources for our residents, resources even more constrained now due to recent budget cuts. The 35th Senate Seat represents 270,000 residents in three counties, and we believe that the cost of these two Special Elections for the State Senate seat should be paid for by the State of Michigan.”
Officials from all three counties reportedly signed on to the letter.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a policy speech at an event, April 9, 2025, …
Michigan Democrats appear hesitant to expand early voting when it could help GOP in state race
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
A shortage of funds in two central Michigan counties could have widespread implications in a special election for a state legislature seat, potentially handing Democrats a decisive advantage in a race that could decide control of the state’s upper chamber.
Democrats currently control the Michigan Senate by a margin of one seat. That could change on May 5, when a special election to fill a vacancy in the chamber is set to take place in the state’s 35th Senate District. The district contains three counties: Saginaw, Bay, and Midland. Saginaw, the most Democratic of the three counties, has opted to have early in-person voting for the May election. Midland and Bay counties, which both lean more toward the GOP, meanwhile, have chosen not to do so, citing financial concerns.
In 2022, the last year a state Senate election was held in the district, the Democratic nominee won Saginaw — the most populous of the three counties — by a margin of 61% to 39%. The Republican, meanwhile, won Midland comfortably, and Bay was split roughly in half.
Given the collapse of support Republicans have seen in recent cycles when Trump isn’t on the ballot, and the historic underperformance of the party in the White House during midterm elections, Saginaw could remain blue in May despite narrowly flipping red in 2024.
This may give local Republicans cause for concern as the county’s early voting could net Democrats additional votes, a potentially decisive factor in the swing district.
Local leaders, even those in Saginaw, are pushing for state funding so that early voting can occur throughout the entire district.
In January, local officials penned a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) requesting special election funding.
“We, the undersigned, are seeking your assistance with a Supplemental Appropriation to cover the costs our local governments will incur because of the special Primary Election and special General Election for this legislative seat,” the letter reads. “Our municipalities work tirelessly to manage our limited financial resources for our residents, resources even more constrained now due to recent budget cuts. The 35th Senate Seat represents 270,000 residents in three counties, and we believe that the cost of these two Special Elections for the State Senate seat should be paid for by the State of Michigan.”
Officials from all three counties reportedly signed on to the letter.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives a policy speech at an event, April 9, 2025, …
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