The tri-cities are about to decide which two candidates will represent each party in the upcoming state Senate election, and the student vote is expected to make a difference.
On Feb. 3, voters in Michigan’s 35th district, encompassing much of Saginaw, Midland, and Bay counties, will vote to decide which two candidates will represent their parties in the race for the empty state Senate seat. The race will ultimately decide whether Democrats retain their majority or whether Republicans are able to tie their seats.
The primaries are key in deciding how each party moves forward in Michigan, according to Nia Ant, freshman political science major and a Cardinals for Michigan volunteer.
“There’s a lot of difference in each politician… they can represent a certain party, but that doesn’t mean they represent your ideal,” Ant said.
The 35th district has been without a state Senator since Kristen McDonald Rivet took her seat in Congress on January 3, 2025.
“For the 270,000 people that reside within the district, that means they’ve only had half a voice in Lansing.” stated Evan Burdick, senior public administration major and president of SVSU’s College Republicans.
Burdick notes the importance of the election in Michigan’s state politics.
“Looking just at the state, you know, there’s four seats, practically speaking, that are going to determine if Republicans or Democrats have a Senate Majority in 2026. So that in and of itself is an even bigger reason of why you should be voting in this primary and voting in this general.”
Lauren Potvin, junior political science major and president of the SVSU Democrats, recommends that students vote in the upcoming election.
“I know a lot of the times people can get very overwhelmed with politics… they feel like their vote doesn’t matter, but I can personally say that in this election, every single vote will matter, and it will have huge ramifications.”
Potvin stressed the importance of state politics in young voters’ lives. “Our job market, our economy, all of those things are influenced,” Potvin states. “It’s really important that young voters vote for their future and keep those things in mind.”
Student organizers and volunteers on SVSU’s campus stress the importance of the student vote.
“In this area, college students have the ability to sway the results of an election… your vote always matters, but the college student vote is a lot more influential in this certain election,” Ant states.
Students living on campus, regardless of their current registration location, can register in the 35th district and vote in this primary election. Registration information is accessible through michigan.gov/vote, or at any of the Cardinals Vote or For Michigan tables, often found on weekdays outside of the Zahnow Library. The general election will be held on May 5.
Hannah Dewitt 
Kylie Acker