Photo: senatedems.com

MI · Officeholder

Dayna Polehanki

DState Senator · District 5

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Michigan Senate District 8

Biography

Dayna Polehanki is a Democratic state senator from Michigan who has represented District 5 since 2019 and is running in the November 3, 2026 general election for the redrawn District 8.[1][2] A former high school English teacher, she chairs the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee.[1][3]

Dayna Polehanki lives in Livonia, Michigan.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in teaching from Marygrove College.[1] In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, her campaign described her as a high school English teacher for nearly 20 years who twice received "Teacher of the Year" awards from her school district.[3]

Polehanki has served in the Michigan Senate since 2019.[1] In the 2025-2026 session she chaired the Education and Career Readiness Committee, served as majority vice chair of the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee, and sat on the Economic and Small Business Development, Energy and Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Senate Oversight committees.[1] She advanced from the Democratic primary for District 8 on August 4, 2026.[1]

In the 2026 survey, Polehanki listed her goals as making "the working poor" a thing of the past, making quality health care widely accessible and affordable, and continuing a focus on early literacy, student safety and mental health, teacher recruitment and retention, and access to college and skilled trades.[3]

1.Dayna Polehanki · Ballotpedia Reference
2.Michigan State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
3.Dayna Polehanki Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Michigan Senate District 8

Dayna Polehanki is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan Senate District 8 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Kenneth MasseyCandidateRMichigan Senate District 8Michigan

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Jobs & cost of living136 with · 2 against138 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; to provide for…
  Makes supplemental 2025-26 appropriations totaling about $1.0 billion gross across state departments, including $596.7 million for health and human services and two budget stabilization fund appropriations totaling $350 million, with a net $52.6 million general fund reduction.
  Apr 30, 2026 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Make, supplement, adjust, and consolidate appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027; to…
  Appropriates about $63.0 billion in total, including $12.7 billion from the general fund, to state departments, the judicial branch and the legislative branch for fiscal year 2026-27 (Senate version).
  Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to…
  Makes minimum staffing levels a required subject of collective bargaining for police and fire units covered by Public Act 312, but optional if the employer's revenue-sharing sales tax receipts or property tax collections fell from the prior fiscal year.
  Jun 26, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All jobs & cost of living votes
Rights & public safety69 with · 0 against69 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of state police for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $1.02 billion in total funds for the Department of State Police for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the judiciary for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $395.3 million in total funds for the judiciary for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Revised judicature act of 1961: add section 2950p.
  As introduced, lets people age 60 or older, vulnerable adults and people with developmental disabilities petition a circuit court for a protection order that can bar firearm purchase or possession, stalking conduct, harm to their animals, and control over their money or property.
  Apr 16, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All rights & public safety votes
Health & care52 with · 0 against52 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of health and human services for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $39.3 billion in total funds for the Department of Health and Human Services for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  The code of criminal procedure: amend section 13n of chapter XVII
  Adds the felony penalties created by a companion bill on interfering with access to health facilities to the state sentencing guidelines; it takes effect only with that bill.
  Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Prohibit certain conduct at or near a health facility and prescribe penalties; to provide remedies; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and…
  Bars injuring, intimidating or interfering with, by force, threat of force or physical obstruction, people obtaining or providing reproductive health services, and damaging property of facilities that provide them; sets misdemeanor and felony penalties and allows civil suits.
  Jun 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All health & care votes
Education & families47 with · 0 against47 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  The state school aid act of 1979: amend sections 3, 6, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 11x, 11aa, 12d, 12e, 15, 18, 18a, 19, 20, 20d, 21b, 21f, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22k, 22l,
  Sets 2026-27 K-12 school aid, raising the per-pupil foundation allowance 2.5% to $10,300 and merging at-risk and bilingual funding into a new weighted allowance that phases up over 15 years (Senate version).
  Apr 30, 2026 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $756.2 million in total funds for the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of education for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $166.4 million in total funds for the Department of Education for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All education & families votes
Climate & energy25 with · 1 against26 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of agriculture and rural development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $159.5 million in total funds for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $1.03 billion in total funds for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Natural resources and environmental protection act: amend sections 301, 3101, 3104, 3110, 3118, 3120, 3122, 3132, 3306, 4104, 4112, 5519, 11108, 11109, 11123, 11153, 11509, 11512, 11525a, 11717b…
  Removes expiration dates on many environmental permit, registration and certification fees under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, and requires annual inflation adjustment of the fees beginning January 1, 2026.
  Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All climate & energy votes
Housing & rent18 with · 0 against18 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  The insurance code of 1956: amend sections 476a and 476b
  Lets out-of-state insurers subtract the new housing opportunity tax credit they claim from the burden counted in Michigan's insurer retaliatory tax calculation, starting in 2027.
  Jul 3, 2026 · Passed 21–15 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Income tax act of 1967: add sections 281 and 678.
  Allows a qualified taxpayer to claim the nonrefundable Housing Opportunity Tax Credit, as allocated on an eligibility certificate, against individual or corporate income tax starting January 1, 2027, under the MSHDA program created in HB 5805.
  Jul 3, 2026 · Passed 21–15 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  State housing development authority act of 1966: amend section 22
  Lets the Michigan State Housing Development Authority run a housing opportunity tax credit program for low-income housing projects, capped at $42 million a year from 2027 and adjusted for inflation; each credit is the lesser of the federal credit or one-sixth of the reserved amount.
  Jul 3, 2026 · Passed 22–14 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All housing & rent votes
Transportation17 with · 0 against17 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the state transportation department for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $6.91 billion in total funds for the state transportation department for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  An act to provide for the classification of all public roads, streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that classification and for additions to and deletions from each…
  Requires the Department of Transportation to estimate the cost of local federal bridge load analysis, inspection and other mandates, and lets it pay them from the Movable Bridge Fund when no other funding exists.
  Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 19–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Aeronautics code of the state of Michigan: amend section 77
  Makes nonsubstantive wording changes to section 77 of the Aeronautics Code.
  Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 19–16 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All transportation votes
Foreign affairs & defense11 with · 0 against11 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Make appropriations for the department of military and veterans affairs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
  Appropriates about $291.6 million in total funds for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2025-26.
  May 13, 2025 · Passed 19–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Michigan national guard tuition assistance act: amend sections 3 and 4
  Sep 25, 2025 · Passed 26–10 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Create a Michigan-African-Caribbean trade commission and to prescribe its powers and duties; to create a fund; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state officers and entities.
  Dec 9, 2025 · Passed 28–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All foreign affairs & defense votes
Technology & privacy7 with · 0 against7 votes
Most contested
- Yes
  Identity theft protection act: amend sections 3, 12, and 12b
  Requires businesses and state agencies holding residents' personal information to keep security safeguards, notify affected residents of data breaches, and notify the attorney general of breaches affecting more than 100 residents, with civil fines up to $750,000.
  Aug 26, 2025 · Passed 19–15 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Regulate operators of certain chatbots; to regulate offering certain chatbots to minors; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local governmental officers and entities; to…
  Enacts the LEAD Act, barring chatbot operators from offering minors chatbots that act as confidants or encourage harm, requiring age verification, and allowing Attorney General fines up to $25,000 per violation and parent lawsuits.
  Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 20–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
- Yes
  Michigan consumer protection act: amend section 3
  Makes a violation of the Kids Code Act in Senate Bill 758 an unlawful practice under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
  Apr 29, 2026 · Passed 20–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
All technology & privacy votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 2 of 270 party-divided votes on file.

Earned sick time act: amend the title and sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–10, Republicans 18–0
Feb 20, 2025Official record ↗
Improved workforce opportunity wage act: amend sections 4, 4d, and 10
What it does: Sets Michigan's minimum wage at $12.48 on February 21, 2025, $13.73 in 2026 and $15.00 in 2027, with later inflation increases, and keeps a separate tipped wage rising from 38% to 50% of the minimum by 2031, replacing…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–10, Republicans 12–2
Feb 13, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

Yes
Make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; to provide for…
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
Yes
The state school aid act of 1979: amend sections 3, 6, 11, 11a, 11j, 11k, 11m, 11s, 11x, 11aa, 12d, 12e, 15, 18, 18a, 19, 20, 20d, 21b, 21f, 21h, 22a, 22b, 22d, 22k, 22l,
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
Apr 30, 2026Official record ↗
Yes
Make, supplement, adjust, and consolidate appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027; to…
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
Apr 29, 2026Official record ↗
Yes
An act to prohibit strikes by certain public employees; to provide review from disciplinary action with respect thereto; to provide for the mediation of grievances and the holding of elections; to…
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
Jun 26, 2025Official record ↗
Yes
Regulate pet cemeteries; to regulate the sale of pet cemetery merchandise and services; to provide for the powers and duties of certain local governmental officers and entities; and to prescribe…
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
Jun 10, 2025Official record ↗
Yes
Michigan consumer protection act: amend the title and sections 2, 4, 5, 10, and 15
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
Jun 10, 2025Official record ↗
Yes
Make appropriations for the department of insurance and financial services for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
May 13, 2025Official record ↗
Yes
Make appropriations for the department of licensing and regulatory affairs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
With most of their party · Passed 19–18 · Yes 19–No 18 · Democrats 19–0, Republicans 0–18
May 13, 2025Official record ↗

See all their split votes

Include unanimous votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 5356 · MI SENATE

Michigan vehicle code: amend sections 14, 41a, 78, 217, 217c, 233, 233a, 233b, 234, 235, 238, 239, 240, 248, 248a, 248f, 248j, 249, 250, 258, 801b, 806, and 810a

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 31–3·Substantive·Oct 14, 2026Roll call ↗

SB 947 · MI SENATE

Natural resources and environmental protection act: amend sections 31502, 31503, 31504, 31505, 31506, 31507, 31508, 31509, 31510, 31511, 31513, 31515, 31516, 31517, 31518, 31520, 31521, and 31523

YesVOTED

Motion: Concur in substitute made by the House

On the version voted Jul 2, 2026: Revises the dam safety law: extends state oversight to federally licensed dams, changes spillway capacity criteria and increases inspection frequency for high- and significant-hazard dams, creates 10-year dam registrations, and allows emergency orders to remove dams in imminent danger of failure.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗

Passed 34–2·Substantive·Oct 1, 2026Roll call ↗

SB 791 · MI SENATE

Michigan memorial highway act: add section 124.

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 33–3·Substantive·Oct 1, 2026Roll call ↗

HB 5514 · MI SENATE

Prohibit youth transportation companies from using certain restraints while transporting youths to certain youth residential treatment programs; to provide exceptions; to provide civil sanctions; and…

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 35–1·Substantive·Oct 1, 2026Roll call ↗

HB 4703 · MI SENATE

The insurance code of 1956: add section 3406ss.

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 32–4·Substantive·Oct 1, 2026Roll call ↗

HB 5485 · MI SENATE

Natural resources and environmental protection act: amend sections 31506, 31509, 31510, 31511, 31513, 31515, 31517, 31519, 31520, 31521, and 31523

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 34–2·Substantive·Oct 1, 2026Roll call ↗

SB 885 · MI SENATE

Create a parent and child legal representation commission and an office of parent and child legal representation; to prescribe the commission’s and office’s powers and duties; and to provide for…

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 27–8·Substantive·Sep 10, 2026Roll call ↗

SB 1141 · MI SENATE

Recodified tax increment financing act: amend sections 201, 301, 402, 523, 603, 703, and 803

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Excludes the property tax levied by county history museum authorities from tax increment revenues that tax increment financing authorities may capture.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗

Passed 20–15·Substantive·Sep 10, 2026Roll call ↗

SB 1140 · MI SENATE

Brownfield redevelopment financing act: amend section 2

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Excludes the property tax levied by county history museum authorities from tax increment revenues that brownfield redevelopment authorities may capture.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗

Passed 20–15·Substantive·Sep 10, 2026Roll call ↗

SB 1139 · MI SENATE

Provide for the establishment of history museum authorities; to provide for the powers and duties of a history museum authority; to authorize the levy and collection of a property tax by a history…

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Creates the History Museum Authorities Act, letting any county form an authority that, with voter approval, may levy up to 0.2 mill for up to 10 years to fund a history museum owned by a city of over 500,000 people.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗

Passed 20–15·Substantive·Sep 10, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 434 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.