SAGINAW, MI — No longer facing opponents from their own political parties, the Democrat and Republican vying for an open state Senate seat in May now are taking shots at each other’s campaign financing figures.
Democrat Chedrick Greene and Republican Jason Tunney will face each other — along with Libertarian candidate Ali Sledz — in a critical May 5 special election for the District 35 seat in the state Senate.
The May special election could shake up the power balance for the rest of the year in Lansing, where Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state Senate, 19-18.
Campaign filings published on the Michigan Secretary of State finance disclosure webpage after the February primary election showed Greene maintained his status as the District 35 candidate with the largest amount of financial support. However, with less than two months until the special election concludes, state records showed Tunney’s campaign possessed more money still available to spend in the stretch run.
As of a Feb. 23 campaign finance filing deadline, Greene reported $430,303.09 in campaign contributions, with $64,389.73 left unspent.
Tunney reported $309,780.00 in contributions, with $135,283.67 unspent.
The Tunney campaign in a statement described its advantage in remaining funds as a “strong financial position” that “underscores the momentum behind Tunney’s campaign and the growing grassroots movement” across mid-Michigan.
District 35 encompasses parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties.
“This campaign is being powered by the people of this district who are tired of being sidelined,” Tunney said. “Our fundraising advantage reflects the unprecedented grassroots support we are seeing from voters who want their voice restored and common-sense leadership sent to Lansing.”
Both candidates were critical of the sources of each other’s financial backing.
Greene pointed out Tunney contributed considerably to his own campaign. State records showed Tunney, a former Saginaw County assistant prosecutor and executive with Duro-Last, contributed $112,500 three days after his February primary victory as well as $100,000 in October 2025.
“Other than the $212,500 Jason Tunney personally loaned to his committee, his campaign is $77,217 in the red,” Greene said. “The only ‘significant fundraising advantage’ my opponent has is the ability to lend and spend from his vast personal wealth any time his campaign coffers run low.”
Greene said his campaign was “fueled by passion and people standing up for each other” while Tunney was “fueled by self-funding from his own deep pockets.”
“Voters in Senate District 35 are smart enough to see Tunney for what he is: another ultra-rich guy trying to buy himself a seat in the Legislature,” the Democrat said.
Tunney fired back, critical of the out-of-state contributions that helped power Greene’s campaign.
“It’s no surprise that Chedrick Greene, who is playing hide-and-seek instead of actually talking to the voters of the 35th, is doing everything he can to distract from the fact that 68% of the donors from his latest filing are from outside of Michigan, with an overwhelming amount from California,” Tunney said. “The 35th has been vacant for over 430 days — the last thing it needs is a puppet handpicked by out-of-touch California liberals.”
State records showed the Greene campaign received about 80 contributions totaling about $6,500 from donors listing California addresses.
“Just like the hardworking men and women I’m running to represent, our team puts in the work for every dollar,” Greene said in response. “We outraised our opponent in the most recent reporting period, with contributions totaling $172,600, and no self-funding. Without the $112,500 that Jason Tunney personally bankrolled his campaign in that same period, he only raised $4,520.”
The most recent reporting period spanned Jan. 19 to Feb. 23, state records showed.
“The numbers speak for themselves: Team Greene’s in-state donations almost quintupled Team Tunney’s,” Greene said.
Greene received the greatest number of votes in the February primary, despite facing more Democratic opponents than Tunney faced Republicans in the GOP primary.
With 16,081 votes cast in his favor, Greene bested five Democrats. With 9,335 votes cast in his favor, Tunney bested three Republican opponents.
State Senate candidates trade barbs over fundraising ahead of May election
