Don KoivistoDonald W. Koivisto was an American Democratic politician from the state of Michigan.Political careerKoivisto was elected to the Michigan [House of Representatives] in 1980. During his time there, he chaired the Agriculture Committee and helped write the state's right-to-farm act. In 1990, Koivisto was elected a Michigan State Senator from the Michigan's 38th [Senate district|38th district], succeeding Joe Mack, who had represented much of the Upper Peninsula since 1960. Koivisto served as state senator until 2003 when he was term-limited. In August 2007, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture appointed Koivisto as Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.DeathKoivisto died of complications from Parkinson's disease on October 7, 2025, at the age of 76. Flags were lowered at the Michigan State Capitol in his honor on October 21.