ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A city councilwoman running for the state House of Representatives is pushing for an opportunity to debate her opponents before a small group of Democrats decides the seat’s likely next holder.
Ce-Ce Gerlach launched her bid for higher office in September, aiming to convince Democratic voters to nominate her to represent the 22nd House District — which covers parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township — in next spring’s primary.
She was the first candidate to announce a campaign for the 2026 Democratic primary; Julian Guridy jumped into the contest about a month later, after now-former State Rep. Josh Siegel was elected Nov. 4 to become Lehigh County’s next executive.
“A public debate allows residents to hear directly from every candidate, understand our positions and see how decisions that impact their lives are being made."Ce-Ce Gerlach, candidate for 22nd State House District
Seigel's resignation Dec. 17 triggered a special election to fill his seat; that contest is scheduled for Feb. 24, 11 weeks before the 2026 Democratic primary.
But a handful of rank-and-file members from the Lehigh County Democratic Committee must first name a candidate to put on the ballot, with no primary to select a nominee before the special election.
Their choice must be ratified by a statewide committee.
The 14 voting precincts in the 22nd House District are represented by 20 people, though each is supposed to have two precinct committee people, or PCPs.
Those PCPs are due to interview candidates Jan. 3 and make their choice the same day. Registered Democrats in the 22nd District must apply by Jan. 1 for consideration.
Gerlach and Guridy are the only candidates to formally announce their interest in the LCDC’s nomination; both have said they'll also run in next year's regularly scheduled Democratic primary.
“These are the rules, and I'm just following the process."Julian Guridy, candidate for 22nd State House District
The winner of the Feb. 24 special election will finish out Siegel’s term, which runs through November 2026. The winner of that month’s election will earn a full two-year term in the House.
Gerlach said she wants the opportunity to debate her opponents to ensure “transparency and meaningful public participation” in a contest that will be determined by party leaders.
“A public debate allows residents to hear directly from every candidate, understand our positions and see how decisions that impact their lives are being made,” Gerlach said Monday in a release.
Guridy told LehighValleyNews.com he is open to participating in a debate hosted by a “neutral, third-party organization” ahead of the PCP’s Jan. 3 decision.
But he noted that special elections in Pennsylvania have followed the same party-led process “for a while now.”
“These are the rules, and I'm just following the process,” he said.
Guridy, an aide to state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, said he is optimistic of securing a place on the ballot for February’s special election after “door-knocking extensively” to speak with residents in the district.
And he has the endorsement of Siegel, the seat’s most recent holder.
Local Democratic volunteers’ decision will likely determine the next state representative for the 22nd House District. It overwhelmingly favors Democrats, who outnumber Republicans by a 2.5-to-1 margin.
