ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh County Democratic Party leaders are backing a 31-year-old Allentown native making his first run for political office to fill the 22nd state House District seat.
Julian Guridy got almost all 19 votes from the county Democratic Committee on Saturday afternoon at IBEW in Center City.
“I will fight for every vote, and when I arrive in Harrisburg, I will fight every day to ensure a better future for Allentown and Salisbury [Township].”Julian Guridy, Democratic candidate for the 22nd state House District
Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach said she and Erlinda Aguilar each picked up one vote. City resident Lewis Shupe also applied for consideration but did not get a vote.
The 19 who voted are precinct committee people, or PCPs, who represent some of the 25 precincts in the 22nd District.
Former state Rep. Josh Siegel served the district until he resigned Dec. 17, after his election as Lehigh County’s next executive. That triggered a special election, scheduled for Feb. 24.
Siegel was among the PCPs to cast their vote for Guridy, who has links to several well-known Allentown politicos.
He serves as an aide to state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, and he’s the son of Julio Guridy, a former city councilman and the current head of Allentown Housing Authority.
'Only the beginning'
Julian Guridy launched his campaign for the 22nd House District six weeks ago at Miller Symphony Hall, calling himself a problem solver.
He said his work with Miller’s constituents over the past two years taught him to “listen to their issues” and how to “provide real solutions.”
Guridy told LehighValleyNews.com his top priorities would be to ensure safe streets and affordable housing in the district.
In a statement Saturday, he said he was “honored by the confidence local Democrats have placed in me."
“This is only the beginning,” Guridy said. “I will fight for every vote, and when I arrive in Harrisburg, I will fight every day to ensure a better future for Allentown and Salisbury [Township].”
As the Democratic nominee in a heavily Democratic district, Guridy is heavily favored to win the special election. Democrats outnumber Republicans by a margin of about 2.5-to-1.
The community is 57% Latino and one of two minority-majority state House districts in the Lehigh Valley, according to the 2020 Census.
Candidate criticizes committee
Gerlach in a news conference Saturday afternoon said Democratic PCPs’ nomination of Guridy was “about legacy last names, political insiders and (a) political machine that tends to run politics in the Lehigh Valley.”
Gerlach criticized local Democrats for making their selection “behind closed doors.” Media were not allowed inside and attendance was limited to LCDC members and candidates.
“This seat does not belong to political insiders. This seat belongs to the people.”Unsuccessful 22nd state House candidate Ce-Ce Gerlach
“This seat does not belong to political insiders,” she said. “This seat belongs to the people.”
Gerlach said her campaign will redouble its door-knocking and phone-calling efforts to ensure she’s on the ballot for the May 19 Democratic primary.
Guridy also has said he plans to run this year for a full term as the 22nd House District’s representative in Harrisburg.
Smith gets GOP nod
Local Republicans selected Robert Smith to represent the party in the special election. Smith, a former Allentown School Board director, previously ran for the district in 2022 but lost to Siegel.
In a statement, Lehigh County Republican Chair Joe Vichot said precinct committee people selected Smith from a field of three candidates.
"I think I'm a perfect candidate who can build a big tent in the community."Republican 22nd District state House candidate Robert Smith
Vichot praised Smith's knowledge of the district, support in the community and ability to bridge partisan divides.
"After years of neglect and political opportunism by the previous Democratic state representative, it is time for real change and real improvement in the lives of the residents of District 22," Vichot said.
Smith, 64, said he was unsure whether he would seek a full year term in November but that he was committed to representing the district in the short term.
Smith pointed to his ability to work on common goals with people of different backgrounds and politics.
He called Gerlach, who served with him on the school board, a friend and someone he could partner with to help working families.
He bemoaned the current divisive politics and gridlock rampant at the state and national levels. He guaranteed that if he's elected, he would ensure a state budget is passed on time.
Pennsylvania's divided General Afternoon passed its budget four months late in 2025.
"I think I'm a perfect candidate who can build a big tent in the community," he said.
