Lawsuit filed to compel special election for empty senate seat This ad will end in 13 seconds
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) - Seven Michigan residents from Saginaw, Midland and Bay counties have filed a complaint in the Michigan Court of Claims to force a special election for the 35th District State Senate seat.
Outside Legal Counsel PLC said their clients are seeking a writ of mandamus, which would compel Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to issue a special election within seven days of the court’s order.
The state senate seat has been vacant since Jan. 3, when Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet was sworn into U.S. Congress, leaving thousands of people without a state senator.
“This isn’t about politics; it’s about the Constitution and the Michigan Constitution isn’t optional,” said Philip Ellison, attorney for the plaintiffs. “Every day this seat stays empty with no plan for fulfillment is another day 270,000 people are silenced in Lansing.”
https://www.wnem.com/2025/08/11/lawsuit-filed-compel-special-election-empty-senate-seat/