GOP Candidate Jason Tunney to Headline Midland Spring Breakfast

Tunney to speak ahead of May 5 special election for state Senate seat

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:51pm

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Republican State Senate candidate Jason Tunney will be the keynote speaker at the annual Midland County Republican Party Dave Camp Spring Breakfast on April 13. The breakfast is scheduled just over three weeks before the May 5 special election where Tunney will compete against Democrat Chedrick Greene and Libertarian Ali Sledz to fill a state Senate seat left empty since Kristen McDonald Rivet left for the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2025.

Why it matters

The special election for the 35th district state Senate seat is a key race that could impact the balance of power in the Michigan legislature. Tunney's appearance at the high-profile Midland GOP event suggests he is seeking to energize the party's base ahead of the vote.

The details

The breakfast event is named after former U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, who served in Congress for 24 years. Previous speakers have included Florida governor Ron DeSantis and U.S. Representative Lisa McClain. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar and State Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) will also speak at the breakfast.

  • The breakfast is set for April 13 at the Great Hall Banquet & Convention Center.
  • The special election will be held on May 5.

The players

Jason Tunney

Republican candidate for the 35th district state Senate seat.

Chedrick Greene

Democratic candidate for the 35th district state Senate seat.

Ali Sledz

Libertarian candidate for the 35th district state Senate seat.

Kristen McDonald Rivet

Former state Senator who left the seat to run for U.S. House of Representatives in January 2025.

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of Michigan who called the special election to fill the state Senate seat.

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What they’re saying

“'Midland, and the entire 35th District deserves a voice in the State Senate. Jason Tunney is our candidate for this seat. We want to ensure that Midland voters have every opportunity to get to know him, and that includes featuring him at our breakfast.'”

— Cathy Leikhim, Midland County Republican Party chair

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This special election for the 35th district state Senate seat is a key race that could impact the balance of power in the Michigan legislature. The appearance of Republican candidate Jason Tunney at the high-profile Midland GOP event suggests he is seeking to energize the party's base ahead of the May 5 vote.