Whitmer Calls For Special Election To Fill Vacant Senate Seat

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday called for a special election to fill a vacant state senate seat.

The election is for Michigan's 35th district, which includes parts of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties. The seat became vacant after former Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in last year's Nov. election.

Whitmer asked for a special primary to be held on Feb. 3 and a general election to fill the seat on May 5.

"We have a lot of good work to get done before the end of next year," Whitmer said. "Michiganders want us to create jobs and grow the economy, invest in schools and boost literacy rates, and, of course, fix those damn roads. I look forward to working with the next state senator from this district to tackle these issues and more."

Earlier this month, a Saginaw County attorney sued Whitmer, accusing the governor of disenfranchising voters by refusing to immediately call for the a special election. The lawsuit asked a judge to force the governor to schedule a vote.

Whitmer's lawyers argued those who brought the lawsuit lack standing and that Michigan law doesn't give the governor a deadline for calling a special election.