Biography
Mark Yonkman is the Democratic candidate for Michigan State Senate District 36 in the November 3, 2026 general election, in which he faces Republican incumbent Michele Hoitenga.[1][2] In a Ballotpedia survey, he described himself as a sixth-generation farmer, former corporate executive and attorney who lives on his family's farm in Boon.[3]
Yonkman graduated from Cadillac Senior High, earned a bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College in 1982, and received a law degree from Wayne State Law School in 1985.[1] He said he practiced corporate and securities law and became general counsel for corporate finance at Comerica Bank, then general counsel and secretary and head of compliance at M&T Bank in New York.[3] After retiring from banking he returned to the family farm; he said he serves on his county Farm Bureau board, chairs its Policy Development Committee, and sits on his township's Board of Review.[3]
Yonkman said his campaign focuses on agriculture, energy and defense and on bringing the views of rural Michigan voters to the Legislature.[3]
- 1.Mark Yonkman (Michigan State Senate candidate) - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Michigan State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Mark Yonkman - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Michigan Senate District 36
Mark Yonkman is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan Senate District 36 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
