GOP Lawmaker's Comments On Democratic Senator-Elect's Military Background Draw Scrutiny

Michigan Advance

May 6, 2026

As Republicans around the state grapple with the fallout of a 20-point loss in Tuesday’s special election for the 35th Michigan Senate District, one GOP lawmaker specifically took to Facebook to question how state Sen.-elect Chedrick Greene, a U.S. Marine veteran, could maintain his values and run as a Democrat.

Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Alto) commented on Facebook in the early hours of Wednesday morning, “It’s weird to me that one could serve our country and be a democrat.”

She then liked a reply to that comment which reads, “Or claim to be Christian and be demoncrat.”

Rigas did not respond to requests for further comment on her statements. But Democrats quickly criticized her characterization of Greene’s background.

“Senator-elect Chedrick Greene is a decorated Marine veteran who served our country for 30 years,” Leah Leszczynski, press secretary for the Michigan Democratic Party, said in a statement to the Michigan Advance. “He ran for the State Senate to make life more affordable for working families and stand up to Republican chaos. Based on last night’s double-digit margin, we think it would be wise for Rep. Rigas and Republicans to spend more time focusing on delivering for working Michiganders and less time sowing division on the internet.”

Greene’s 30-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, during which he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major, included multiple overseas deployments including during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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