| Kristen McDonald Rivet | |
| State Senate: | Michigan |
| District: | 35th |
| Term Start: | January 1, 2023 |
| Predecessor: | Curt VanderWall |
| Birth Name: | Kristen Lee McDonald[1] |
| Birth Date: | 11 July 1970 |
| Birth Place: | Portland, Michigan, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Joseph Rivet |
| Children: | 6 |
| Relatives: | Karen McDonald (sister) |
| Education: | Michigan State University (BA) University of Michigan, Flint (MA) |
Kristen McDonald Rivet (born July 11, 1970) is an American politician who is a member of the Michigan Senate for the 35th district. She was elected in November 2022 and took office on January 1, 2023.
McDonald Rivet was born on July 11, 1970, in Portland, Michigan,[2] where she was raised with her fraternal twin sister Karen McDonald. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in education and public administration from the University of Michigan–Flint.[3]
Prior to entering politics, McDonald Rivet served as chief of staff for State Superintendent Michael P. Flanagan and was vice president of the Skillman Foundation.[4] Her first political position was in the Charter Commission for Bay City, MI.[5] McDonald Rivet followed that up by serving as a member of the Bay City Commission, representing the city's 2nd ward.[6] She was elected to the Michigan Senate in November 2022, defeating Republican state Representative Annette Glenn.[7] [8] She has declared her candidacy to run for the United States House of Representatives Michigan 8th District to replace the retiring Dan Kildee in the 2024 Democratic primary.[9]
McDonald Rivet and her husband, Joseph Rivet, have six children.