The 35th district was created with the adoption of the 1963 Michigan Constitution, as the previous 1908 state constitution only permitted 34 senatorial districts.

[2][3] It was represented by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet until 2025, following her election to Michigan’s 8th Congressional District.

District 35 encompasses parts of Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties.

[4] District 35, as dictated by the 2011 Apportionment Plan, covered a large swath of Northern Michigan, which included all of Benzie, Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, and Wexford Counties.

Communities within the district included Cadillac, Ludington, Manistee, Frankfort, Grayling, Kalkaska, Baldwin, Greilickville, Scottville, Lake City, West Branch, Reed City, Evart, Houghton Lake, St. Helen, and Roscommon.