Democratic leadership pushes Michigan Senate candidate with history of job-hopping – Washington Examiner
The article discusses the potential candidacy of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) for the open Michigan Senate seat in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Despite no official candidates having entered the race yet, rivet, who has never completed a full term in any office she has held, is being encouraged to run by former Sen. Debbie Stabenow and other Democratic leaders. Rivet was recently elected to Congress following a brief tenure in the Michigan state Senate,which she left to pursue the congressional seat.
Her past political career includes serving as a city commissioner and winning a state senate seat in a 2022 blue wave for Democrats. However, her early departure from the Senate created a tie in the chamber, and concerns have been raised about her lack of experience in Congress before pursuing a Senate run.The article also notes that Rivet represents a congressional district that favored Donald Trump in the last election, which could complicate her campaign. Other Democratic and Republican candidates are also anticipated to enter the race, aiming for the Senate seat.
Democratic leadership pushes Michigan Senate candidate with history of job-hopping
While no one has entered the race for the open Michigan Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections, one Democrat who is considering a run has never served a full term in an office she has held.
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), who was recently elected to Congress in the 2024 election and is thought to be considering running for the seat, has not completed a term for any office she has held. According to multiple reports, former Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who was close with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other leaders while in the Senate, is pushing for McDonald Rivet to run.
McDonald Rivet was first elected to local office in Michigan to serve as the city commissioner for Bay City, Michigan. She vacated the position three years into the four year term to run for the Michigan Senate, according to her LinkedIn.
In 2022, McDonald Rivet won her state Senate seat by six points to serve a four-year term. Her victory was part of a blue wave that allowed Democrats to gain control of the Michigan Senate for the first time since 1984. At the time, McDonald Rivet called the win “historic.”
Less than two years into the position, she announced a run for Congress. When she vacated office in the state Senate earlier this year, however, she left the Michigan Senate tied at 19-19 Senators each, which left Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D-MI) as the tiebreaking vote. Michigan Senate Democrats now have a one-seat majority, but as of this week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has not scheduled a special election to fill the seat vacated by McDonald Rivet.
In a statement to the Detroit News, McDonald Rivet did not commit to ruling out a run, saying she “will consider how and where I can best serve Michigan, so that I’m part of a solution that drives meaningful results for my community.”
Political consultant Adrian Hemond told the outlet that running for Senate after not spending much time in Congress could backfire on the party’s chances in the likely competitive race.
“You just got to Washington, for Christ’s sake. You didn’t serve a full term in the state Senate, and now you’re going to immediately start campaigning for the U.S. Senate after getting elected to Congress?” he said.
One GOP operative told the Washington Examiner that Republicans are “keeping an eye on what Rivet ends up doing” should she not pursue her current House seat if she runs for the Senate. McDonald Rivet currently represents Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, which is one of 13 House districts that elected a Democrat but voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
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State Sen. Mallory McMorrow is expected to enter on the Democratic side, and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Senate last year, will enter on the Republican side.
McDonald Rivet’s office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
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