State Senator District 8
August 4, 2026 · State Senate District 8; Michigan · State senate district · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: High · 70 out of 100
Smaller districts give each vote more weight, and this district is small for its type. About 259,113 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(274,056 ÷ 259,113) ÷ ln(274,056 ÷ 253,220) = 70.91, comparing state senate districts in MI (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
High representation + unknown decisiveness → High vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Dayna Polehanki
Democratic · declared
Dayna Polehanki is a Democratic candidate for Michigan State Senate District 8 and a sitting Michigan state senator. She has served in the Senate since 2019, is Senate Democratic Majority Caucus Chair, chairs the Senate Education Committee, and previously taught high school for nearly 20 years.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Gun Control 1 for, Personal Income Tax Reduction 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 1 for
Kenneth D. Massey
Republican · declared
Kenneth D. Massey is a Republican candidate for Michigan State Senate District 8 and a former Farmington Hills mayor and city council member. His background includes paramedic service, cardiovascular physiology and biotechnology, university teaching, venture development, and suicide-prevention advocacy.
Records: Environment and Public Health 2 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for, Social Programs and Welfare 1 for
Election sources
Source: mi-boe.entellitrak.com