200 days and counting: A Michigan district is still waiting for a state senator

LANSING—It’sbeenmorethan200dayssinceresidentsofMichigan’s35thDistricthavehadastateSenator,promptinggrowingandbipartisancomplaintsoverGov.GretchenWhitmer’srefusaltocallaspecialelectiontofillavacantseat. “We’rebeingtaxed,butwehavenorepresentativeinthestateSenate.Ithinkthat’segregious,”SaginawCountyDemocraticPartyChairBrandellAdamssaidthisweek. BrandellisamongthreecandidateswhohavesofarfiledtorunfortheseatinadistrictthatincludespartsofBay,MidlandandSaginawcounties.It’sbeenvacantsinceJan.3,whenDemocratKristenMcDonaldRivetbeganhernewjobinCongress,leavingabout270,000residentswithoutastatesenator. UnderMichiganlaw,onlythegovernorhasthepowertocallaspecialelectiontofilltheseatfortheremainderoftheterm,whichrunsthroughnextyear.Whitmerhasnotsaidwhenshe’lldoso—orwhyit’stakensolong. “Weexpectanannouncementwillbemadeinthenearfuture,”WhitmerspokespersonStaceyLaRouchesaidWednesdayinatextmessage.“Wewil