Special election to fill District 25 House seat
Voters in Wayne, Westland, Canton Township and Dearborn Heights will vote for a new state representative during a special election Tuesday.
The winner will fill the District 25 seat in the state House of Representatives that Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman vacated last fall.
Democrat Peter Herzberg and Republican Josh Powell are vying to serve the remainder of Coleman’s third term in Lansing, which runs through the end of this year. In Michigan, state representatives serve two-year terms and earn $71,685 annually. The special election winner will have to run again in November to retain the seat through 2026.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Election Day.
Where is District 25?
District 25 includes all of Wayne, most of Westland, part of southwest Canton Township and a small portion of northeast Dearborn Heights.
The district is historically a Democratic Party stronghold and has been represented by a Democrat since the early 1990s.
Who is Peter Herzberg?
Herzberg, a Democrat, has sat on Westland City Council since 2016 and is the longestserving current member. The councilman won a five-candidate primary in January to become the Democratic nominee.
According to his campaign website, Herzberg, 32, is a lifelong Westland resident and graduated from John Glenn High School. He has a degree in finance from Wayne State University.
Herzberg is Coleman’s cousin. Coleman, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Westland Police Officers Association and others have endorsed him.
Who is Josh Powell?
Powell, a Republican, is seeking office for the first time. The Westland resident ran unsuccessfully for Westland City Council in 2021.
According to his campaign website, Powell, 38, has a degree in criminal justice from Purdue University and has lived in Michigan since 2010. Powell also served in the Army National Guard for six years.
Powell has been endorsed by Westland Councilwoman Emily Bauman, Great Lakes Gun Rights and Michigan Health Choice Alliance.
How can I vote?
Michigan offers same-day voter registration and no-reason absentee voting. People can register to vote at their local clerk’s office or online through the Michigan Voter Information Center. To request an absentee ballot, people can contact their local clerk’s office.