A special election in Michigan’s 35th District could offer one of the first clues about the 2026 political landscape, with control of the state Senate hanging by a single seat.

The stakes are unusually high for a state legislative race. Democrats currently hold a one-vote majority in the Michigan Senate. A Democratic win would preserve that edge for the remainder of the term. A Republican victory would deadlock the chamber at 19-19, immediately reshaping the balance of power in Lansing and giving Republicans new leverage over what legislation can move forward.