Dayna Polehanki
Michigan State Senator, District 5 since 2018. Ran in 2 elections between 2018 and 2022, winning 2. Won the 2026 race for Michigan Senate District 8. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Michigan State Senator, District 5Born 1969
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 8
- 39 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.3%
- Chamber median 1.5%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +20.0
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Education · chair
- Regulatory Affairs · democratic vice chair
- Economic and Community Development
- Energy and Environment
- Natural Resources and Agriculture
- Oversight
- Veterans and Emergency Services
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Marihuana: other · Became law Oct 2026
Education: teachers and administrators · Became law Jul 2026
Animals: care and treatment · Became law Jul 2026
Animals: care and treatment · Became law Jul 2026
Liquor: authorized distribution agents · Became law Jul 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Polehanki sits in the Michigan State Senate
Polehanki is closer to the center than 65% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Winnie Brinks, Paul Wojno, Sam Singh
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Polehanki’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats99%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills14%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Michigan State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Polehanki’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Polehanki | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2026 | HB 5482: State agencies (existing): generally; plans to correct audit recommendations; require… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 24–10 |
| Sep 9, 2026 | SB 729: State finance: authorities; outstanding obligations of the state building authority;… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 24–10 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | SB 1052: Human services: medical services; definition of kickbacks or bribes; modify. Amends sec.… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 22–14 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | SB 569: Health: funding; various fees under the public health code; transfer and deposit into the… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–15 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | HB 5630: Appropriations: school aid omnibus; fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriations for K-12 school… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 25–11 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Polehanki was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State Senate, District 8 | Won | D+20.0 | D+11.9 | +8.1 |
| 2022 | Michigan State Senate, District 5 | Won | D+22.1 | — | — |
| 2018 | Michigan State Senate, District 7 | Won | D+3.2 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $200.9K
- Spent
- $184K
- Cash
- $99.5K
Source: Michigan Bureau of Elections filings through Oct 18, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 3:38 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| DAYNA POLEHANKI FOR STATE SENATE State | Active |
Source: Michigan Bureau of Elections filings through Oct 18, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 3:38 PM ET
Seats Polehanki has held
- Michigan State Senate, District 5 · since 2022
- Michigan State Senate, District 7 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Polehanki has run against
- Kenneth D. Massey (R) · 2026 election, won
- Emily Bauman (R) · 2022 election, won
- Laura Cox (R) · 2018 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Polehanki
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/f266a938-3705-4c7c-994f-859b2b6024dc
- Wikidata Q76366376
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET