On July 18, 2025, Michigan’s elections panel, the Board of State Canvassers, approved a recall effort targeting State Representative Peter Herzberg, a Democrat from Westland. This decision allows the recall campaign to start collecting voter signatures to potentially remove Herzberg from office.

The Board of State Canvassers unanimously agreed on July 18, 2025, that the recall petition against Herzberg was clear and factual.

The petition, filed by Keith Butkovich, a resident of Herzberg’s district, now moves forward, allowing Butkovich to gather signatures from voters in Michigan’s 25th House District. If enough signatures are collected, a recall election could be held to decide whether Herzberg stays in office or is replaced.

Herzberg has a 10-day window from July 18, 2025, to appeal the board’s decision.

If no appeal is filed or the appeal fails, the recall campaign has 60 days to collect signatures equal to at least 25% of the votes cast in the district during the 2022 gubernatorial election.

This is a high bar, as Michigan’s recall process is challenging, with no successful recall of a state lawmaker since 2011.

Why Is This Happening?

The recall effort stems from Herzberg’s vote on March 18, 2025, against a Republican proposal to lower Michigan’s income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.05%.

Herzberg, joined by most Democratic colleagues, opposed the bill, which has not been considered by the Democrat-led Michigan Senate.

Keith Butkovich, the petition’s sponsor, argues that Herzberg’s vote justifies his removal, claiming it does not reflect the interests of the district.

Butkovich stated, “This is about holding elected officials accountable when they vote against the people’s interests,” emphasizing that the effort is grassroots and not backed by any specific group.

This recall mirrors past efforts in Michigan, such as the 1983 recalls of state senators Phil Mastin and David Serotkin, who were targeted for supporting a tax hike.

Those recalls succeeded, flipping the state Senate to Republican control. However, Herzberg’s district is considered safely Democratic, so a successful recall is unlikely to change the Michigan House’s partisan balance.

The Board of State Canvassers met in Lansing, Michigan, on July 18, 2025, to review the petition.

The recall effort targets Herzberg’s 25th House District, which includes parts of Westland, Wayne, Dearborn Heights, and Canton, serving approximately 90,562 constituents.

If the signature collection succeeds, a recall election would likely be scheduled for the next regular election date, potentially in 2026, unless an appeal changes the timeline.

Who’s Involved?

• Peter Herzberg: A Democrat representing Michigan’s 25th House District since April 2024, Herzberg won a special election on April 16, 2024, and was re-elected on November 5, 2024. A Westland native, he graduated from John Glenn High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Wayne State University.
  • He has served as a Westland City Council member and works as a certified home inspector. Herzberg did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the recall effort.
• Keith Butkovich: The petition’s sponsor, a resident of the 25th District, leading the recall effort. He claims the campaign is grassroots and not funded by any organized group.
• Board of State Canvassers: A bipartisan panel of two Democrats and two Republicans responsible for approving or rejecting recall petitions based on clarity and factual accuracy. The board’s unanimous decision on July 18, 2025, greenlit the recall effort.
• Others Involved: Republicans proposed the tax cut bill, while Democrats, including Herzberg, largely opposed it. Historical comparisons involve former state senators Phil Mastin and David Serotkin, recalled in 1983 over tax votes.

More About the Recall Process

Recalling a lawmaker in Michigan is tough. The petition must collect signatures from at least 25% of the voters who cast ballots in the 2022 gubernatorial election in the 25th District within a 60-day period.

If successful, a recall election would be held, with Herzberg automatically listed as a candidate unless he withdraws.

Opponents would be chosen by the local Republican Party, given the district’s Democratic lean. Historically, recalls are rare—only three state legislators have been successfully recalled in Michigan since 1913, with the last in 2011 against Republican Rep. Paul Scott.

Elections and Voting Details

If the recall effort gathers enough signatures, a recall election could occur on the next regular election date, likely in 2026, as Michigan holds elections in even-numbered years for state offices.

The 25th District’s voters—registered residents of northwest Dearborn Heights, northeast, north, northwest, west, and southwest Westland, Wayne, and southeast Canton—would be eligible to vote.

Voters can check registration status or register online at the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.

The recall election would ask voters whether Herzberg should remain in office or be replaced, with a simultaneous vote for a replacement candidate if the recall succeeds.

Additional Important Information

• Herzberg’s Background: Herzberg has focused on education and economic issues, as highlighted during his swearing-in ceremony in April 2024, attended by Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman. His legislative priorities include supporting local communities and addressing constituent needs.
• Partisan Context: The recall effort reflects ongoing political divides in Michigan.
  • Democrats control the state House and Senate, but Republicans are pushing back on issues like taxes. Herzberg’s district, however, is a Democratic stronghold, reducing the likelihood of a successful recall impacting the House’s majority.
• Historical Precedent: Michigan has a history of tax-related recalls. In 1983, Democratic senators Mastin and Serotkin were recalled for supporting a tax increase, leading to a Republican Senate majority. The 2011 recall of Rep.
  • Paul Scott was backed by the Michigan Education Association, showing that recalls often tie to specific policy disputes.
• Challenges for Recall Efforts: Since 2012, Michigan’s recall laws, tightened under former Governor Rick Snyder, have made it harder to succeed.
  • Petitions must be clear, factual, and collect a high number of signatures in a short time. In 2023, the Board of State Canvassers rejected seven recall petitions against other lawmakers for lack of clarity, approving only one against Rep. Cam Cavitt, which ultimately failed due to insufficient signatures.

Why This Matters

This recall effort highlights tensions over tax policy and political accountability in Michigan.

While Herzberg’s vote against the tax cut sparked the campaign, the recall’s success is uncertain due to the district’s Democratic lean and the high signature threshold.

The outcome could influence how lawmakers approach controversial votes, knowing constituents may respond with recall efforts.

For voters in the 25th District, this is a chance to weigh in on Herzberg’s representation, but the process will test the recall campaign’s grassroots strength.

For more information on Michigan elections or to check voter registration, visit the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.

Stay tuned for updates on whether the recall effort advances to an election.

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