A special election to fill the vacancy in the Michigan Senate's competitive 35th District could sway the power dynamic in Lansing.

Election lawyers from both sides of the political spectrum said Monday that Michigan Secretary of Jocelyn Benson correctly declined to issue a declarative ruling on whether the major party’s endorsement conventions were constitutional.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called a special election in August, setting the primary vote on Feb. 3 and the general election on May 5. The winner will complete a four-year term that ends on Dec. 31, 2026. The Democratic candidates are Chedrick Greene, Pamela Pugh, Brandell Adams, William Morrone, Serenity Hope Salak and Martin Blank.

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Michigan’s free newsletter here. A judge ruled Tuesday that 37 untabulated ballots in Hamtramck’s disputed municipal election should not be counted,