State Senator District 38
August 4, 2026 · State Senate District 38; 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: Low · 19 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 269,835 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(274,056 ÷ 269,835) ÷ ln(274,056 ÷ 253,220) = 19.63, comparing state senate districts in MI (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average 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
Beau Matthew LaFave
Republican · declared
Beau Matthew LaFave is a Republican candidate for the Michigan Senate in District 38, an open Upper Peninsula seat. He previously served in the Michigan House through 2022.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 2 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
David Prestin
Republican · declared
David Prestin is a Republican candidate for the Michigan Senate in District 38, an open Upper Peninsula seat. He currently serves in the Michigan House representing District 108.
Records: Environment and Public Health 1 for
Kelli J. Van Ginhoven
Democratic · declared
Kelli J. Van Ginhoven is a Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate in District 38, an open Upper Peninsula seat. An Escanaba native and former business owner, she serves on the Delta County Board of Commissioners.
Records: Anti-Corruption 2 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Government Efficiency 1 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
Election sources
Source: mi-boe.entellitrak.com