BETHLEHEM, Pa. — With the 2026 election cycle about to officially begin next week, more and more candidates for Pennsylvania's General Assembly have been launching their campaigns across the Lehigh Valley.
Tuesday marks the first day candidates hoping to appear on the ballot can begin circulating their petitions.
Republican and Democratic candidates have until March 10 to gather the necessary signatures. People running for Congress must collect 1,000 signatures of registered party members in their district. Those running for state Senate must collect 500 signatures from party members in their district and state House candidates must collect 300 party members in their district.
The timing has led multiple candidates to announce their foray into local races.
Senate District 16
Democrat Juan Vargas, the owner of Nowhere Coffee Co., kicked off his campaign in Pennsylvania's 16th state Senate District on Feb. 6. In a video posted on social media, the Dominican Republic native focused on his business qualifications and commitment to creating a fair playing field that doesn't favor the rich and powerful.
"I'm running to bring real world experience into the government and to pass powerful, meaningful legislation that improves your quality of life," Vargas said.
PhillyBurbs.com reported last month that the Berks County Democratic Committee held a straw poll in attempt to narrow the primary field ahead of a difficult election. The winner, Bradley Merkl-Gump, a Pennridge School Board director, has not yet created a formal campaign website but has been endorsed by state Sen. Steve Santasiero, D-Bucks. Neither has fellow candidate Wayne Codner, the mayor of Richlandtown.
The 16th District represents Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lower Milford, Lowhill, Lynn, North Whitehall, Upper Macungie, Upper Milford, Upper Saucon, Washington and Weisenberg townships and Alburtis, Coopersburg, Macungie and Slatington as well as portions of Allentown and South Whitehall Township in Lehigh County. The Bucks County portion of the district includes Bedminster, Bridgeton, Durham, East Rockhill, Haycock, Hilltown, Milford, Nockamixon, Richland, Springfield, Tinicum and West Rockhill townships along with Dublin, Perkasie, Quarkertown, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Sellersville, Silverdale and Trumbauersville plus a portion of Telford.
The 16th District is currently represented by freshman state Sen. Jarrett Coleman, an Upper Macungie Township Republican and former Parkland School District director. Republicans have a 12.4% edge over Democrats in voter registration within the district, according to state data.
Senate District 18
Republican Scott Janney formally kicked off his race for state Senate on Tuesday. An Evangelical Presbyterian minister and a director of gift planning for the Salvation Army, Janney pledged to build a stronger economy, create statewide voter ID and responsibly use Pennsylvania's oil, gas, coal and timber to lower energy costs if elected.
"Real change starts with trust, plain speech and turning promises into results," he said in a prepared statement. "That's what I've done throughout my career. It's what our state Senate needs."
Janney, a member of the Northampton County Republican Committee, is the first Republican to enter the race. The district represents Bethlehem, Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Lower Nazareth, Lower Saucon, Palmer, Plainfield, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Washington and Williams townships and Bangor, Bethlehem, East Bangor, Easton, Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, Nazareth, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown, Tatamy, West Easton, Wilson and Wind Gap.
The district is currently represented by longtime incumbent Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton, who has built a reputation for being a political maverick. However, she may face a primary challenge from Taiba Sultana, a former Easton City councilwoman. Sultana, who previously feuded with Boscola after someone appeared to forge Boscola's signature onto Sultana's ballot petition in 2024, has updated her campaign website for a state Senate run.
Voter registration data shows Democrats outnumber Republicans by 9.3% in the 18th District. However, unaffiliated and third-party voters make up 21.6% of the district's voters.
House District 183
Republican incumbent Zach Mako formally launched his re-election campaign this week. Mako, a helicopter pilot in the Pennsylvania National Guard, is seeking a sixth term in office.
"I'm running for re-election to continue fighting for responsible government, economic opportunity and policies that put our communities first," he said in a prepared statement.
Mako represents one of the safest political districts in the region; registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by nearly 7,000 voters in the district. No opponents have announced campaigns against him to date. Mako won re-election in 2024 with nearly two-thirds of all votes cast.
The district represents Allen, East Allen and Lehigh townships and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport as well as part of Moore Township in Northampton County. The district's Lehigh County portion includes Lowhill Township, North Whitehall Township and Slatington.
