Dayna Polehanki has a bachelor s degree in psychology from Central Michigan University and a master s degree in teaching from Marygrove College. She lives in Livonia with her husband, Jim.

Dayna Polehanki - Ballotpedia

Dayna Polehanki - Gongwer News Service-Michigan

Dayna is a classroom teacher. She has taught for 16 years and was named her district's Teacher of the Year in 2018. 

Dayna is currently a Michigan state senator. She was first elected in 2018 and is currently serving her third term.

Senate Passes Polehanki Bill to Eliminate Third-Grade Reading ...

2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Supports increasing spending on affordable housing.

As a state representative, sponsored House Bill 4001 to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027.

As a state senator, she increased the Working Families Tax Credit by five times.

- Supports increasing spending on affordable housing.
- As a state representative, sponsored House Bill 4001 to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027.
- As a state senator, she increased the Working Families Tax Credit by five times.

Economy

As a state senator, sponsored SB 1034 to expand hate crime laws to include protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

As a state senator, she passed a Safe Storage Law, Universal Background Check Law, and Red-Flag Law.

As a state senator, passed a Safe Storage Law, Universal Background Check Law, and Red-Flag Law.

Banned convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms for 8 years;

Banned convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms for 8 years.

As a state representative, she "created a fund for public safety and violence prevention initiatives to support local law enforcement and crime victim services."

- As a state senator, sponsored SB 1034 to expand hate crime laws to include protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.
- As a state senator, passed a Safe Storage Law, Universal Background Check Law, and Red-Flag Law.
- Banned convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms for 8 years.
- As a state representative, she "created a fund for public safety and violence prevention initiatives to support local law enforcement and crime victim services."

Public Safety

Supports expanding and fully funding the Healthy Michigan Plan, which provides health insurance to low-income residents.

- Supports abortion access.
- Supports expanding and fully funding the Healthy Michigan Plan, which provides health insurance to low-income residents.

Healthcare

Advocates reducing standardized testing time for high school juniors by 50%.

As a state representative, spearheaded class size reduction and dual enrollment initiatives.

As a state senator, sponsored legislation that would make school meals free for all children.

Supports expanded free preschool for all 4 year-olds.

Supports designated funding for student safety and mental health.

Supports continued funding for school-based health clinics.

As a state senator, she created Michigan Reconnect, which provides tuition-free community college for those 25 and older.

As a state senator, she made student-teaching tuition free for teacher candidates.

As a state senator, made student-teaching tuition free for teacher candidates.

- Advocates reducing standardized testing time for high school juniors by 50%.
- As a state representative, spearheaded class size reduction and dual enrollment initiatives.
- As a state senator, sponsored legislation that would make school meals free for all children.
- Supports expanded free preschool for all 4 year-olds.
- Supports designated funding for student safety and mental health.
- Supports continued funding for school-based health clinics.
- As a state senator, she created Michigan Reconnect, which provides tuition-free community college for those 25 and older.
- As a state senator, made student-teaching tuition free for teacher candidates.

Education

Supports allocating funds for long-term road maintenance.

- Supports allocating funds for long-term road maintenance.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of May 1, 2026, Dayna Polehanki’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Dayna Polehanki

Mauricio Mendez

Graham Shirley

- Your state representative represents the interests of your district in the Michigan State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state's lawmaking body: the Michigan Legislature.
- There are 38 Michigan senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to four-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $71,685 and a yearly per diem of $10,800.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Michigan State Senate.