Wed. Nov 6th, 2024

Michigan state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, speaks at a campaign event in Flint, Mich., on Oct. 30, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

In one of the state’s most-watched races, state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) has defeated former prosecutor Paul Junge, claiming the open seat left by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) following his decision not to seek reelection. 

The Associated Press called the race for McDonald Rivet, who had 50.9% to Junge’s 44.9%, with 85% of unofficial returns in.

“I am honored by the trust of our neighbors to represent mid-Michigan in the US House. We won this race with a broad and energized coalition, and I am grateful to the tens of thousands of people who voted, volunteered, and donated. We showed that even amidst negativity and attack ads, we can come together as a community with a positive vision for our region,” McDonald Rivet said.

Michigan’s 8th Congressional District contains all of Saginaw and Bay counties, most of Genesee County and parts of Tuscola and Midland counties.

Currently in her first term in the Michigan Senate, McDonald Rivet has served in a variety of roles in both public service and in running nonprofits, including serving as chief of staff for the Michigan Department of Education, as well as executive director of the Michigan Head Start Association, vice president of Michigan Future Inc. and president and CEO of Greater Midland Inc.

Kildee put his support behind McDonald Rivet ahead of the primary, alongside a number of other prominent Michigan Democrats including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor).

Paul Junge, a Republican candidate for Michigan’s 8th congressional district speaks at a rally on Saginaw Valley State University campus in Michigan ahead of President Donald Trump on Oct. 3, 2024 ahead of the presidential election | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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