Prestin, R-Cedar River, said in a news release that he is “pledging to continue his fight for good-paying jobs, energy independence, access to health care, and the protection of the Upper Peninsula’s way of life.”

The state Senate’s 38th District encompasses almost the entirety of the U.P., with the exception of parts of Mackinac and Chippewa counties. It is one of 38 districts in the state. Senators serve four-year terms.

Prestin joins a few others who have announced candidacy for the seat, which will be vacated by state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, who is unable to seek re-election because of term limits. Also vying for the role are Democrat Kelli van Ginhoven and Republican Chris Reynolds. The deadline for other major-party candidates to file is April 21; a primary will take place in August before the general election Nov. 3, 2026. The term begins Jan. 1, 2027.

Prestin, who has repeatedly voiced opposition to overregulation, said his top priority in the state Senate will be ensuring the region can work, live and thrive by creating good-paying jobs, defending reliable and affordable energy and expanding health care access in rural communities.

Dave Prestin, shown here speaking at a past event, has announced he will run for the 38th District Michigan state Senate seat. He now serves in the state House of Representatives for the 108th District. (Daily Press file photo)

“You need to only look at the realities facing us, from hospital closures and EMS staffing shortages, to crippling energy costs for residents and businesses alike, to what is taking place with our population to understand why I am dialed in on these issues,” Prestin said.

Prestin’s understanding of some of those points comes in part from firsthand experience: his resume includes serving as a paramedic for Aurora Bay Area Medical Center and a volunteer firefighter and medical first responder for Cedarville Township. He spent four years on the Menominee County Board and nine years on the Alger Delta Electrical Cooperative Board of Directors. He owned and operated the Cedar River Plaza from 2007 to 2017.

Prestin was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2022 and has served the 108th since January 2023. The 108th District covers Delta, Luce, Menominee, Schoolcraft and parts of Chippewa and Mackinac counties.

“Every decision I make starts and ends with one question: what’s best for the people of the U.P.?” Prestin said in the news release. “Our communities deserve leaders who understand the challenges of living, working, and raising a family up north, from energy costs and healthcare access to job creation and government overreach. I’m running (for state Senate) to make sure Lansing never forgets the people and priorities of the Upper Peninsula.”

Other Republican legislators of the U.P. made statements backing Prestin. 

Michigan's 38th state Senate District encompasses most of the Upper Peninsula.

“Dave Prestin has proven time and again that he’s a strong voice for the people of the Upper Peninsula,” McBroom said in the news release. “After working alongside him for years, I know that he’s pragmatic, grounded and committed to solving real problems impacting the U.P. I’m proud to support him to replace me as the U.P.’s voice in the state Senate. Dave is unquestionably the best choice for this job.”

The 109th District state Rep. Karl Bohnak, R-Deerton, said in the release, “Dave understands that our way of life in the U.P. is worth fighting for, and that means defending access to energy, protecting jobs and making sure the next generation has the opportunity to build a career and family right here at home. I cannot think of a stronger leader to fill the big shoes of Senator McBroom than Dave.”

And 110th District state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, who has worked with Prestin, also endorsed Prestin’s candidacy, stating in the release, “Dave has always stood up for the hardworking people of the U.P. He knows our challenges, our values, and our independence. Dave brings a serious and studied approach to this job and that sets him apart. For him, it’s not about the title or the attention but about solutions that matter for the people of my district. That is why I am certain he will continue to be a powerful voice in Lansing for the Upper Peninsula, this time in the state Senate.”

Prestin said he was “humbled” by the trust of the U.P. legislators.

Diane Casperson, widow of the late state Sen. Tom Casperson, who had the seat before McBroom, offered her support as well.

“Tom would be excited and grateful that Dave Prestin is seeking to represent the district he loved,” Diane Casperson said in the news release. “In Dave, I see many of the same qualities that defined Tom, from his passion for the U.P. to his genuine concern for the people, as well their shared sensibility that comes from owning a small business. Tom was truly a working man that worked for the U.P. I have no doubt Dave will continue that legacy.”

Prestin lives with his wife of 25 years, Kathie, in Menominee County. Together they have one daughter, Mattie, a student at Michigan Technological University.

Prestin will make a formal announcement of his candidacy at 3:30 p.m. Central time Friday at Loadmaster, 100 Ninth Ave. in Norway. More information about the campaign can be found at www.DavePrestinforSenate.com.

———

R. R. Branstrom can be reached at 906-786-2021, ext. 140, or rbranstrom@dailypress.net.