ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown City Councilman Ed Zucal lost Tuesday’s Democratic primary to incumbent Mayor Matt Tuerk by more than 60 percentage points.
But it looks like he’ll have a second chance to try to unseat the mayor.
Zucal had just under 500 write-in votes on Republican primary ballots, as of about 4 p.m. Thursday.Lehigh County Election Board partial results
Zucal had just under 500 write-in votes on Republican primary ballots, as of about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to partial results from the Lehigh County Election Board.
He needed just 100 votes — and to earn more write-ins than Tuerk — to earn the GOP nomination for mayor.
Tuerk had 114 Republican write-in votes Thursday afternoon, according to partial results.
Solomon Tembo received 11 GOP write-in votes.
Tembo was the lone Republican to enter the Allentown mayoral race, but he was kicked off the ballot because he provided a Salisbury Township address on his campaign form.
'One way or the other'
Zucal did not immediately respond Thursday to LehighValleyNews.com.
Speaking at the American Legion Post 576 just after polls closed Tuesday, Zucal said he was “feeling really good” about his electoral chances and expected to be on the November general election ballots “one way or the other.”
Tuerk told LehighValleyNews.com before he declared victory at Union and Finch that he was “super excited” by the chance to speak to all voters if Zucal won the Republican nomination and extended the contest.
It was unclear Thursday how many votes remain to be counted in the race for Allentown mayor as results are not yet certified.
