ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Josh Siegel has officially resigned from his seat in the state House of Representatives to assume his new role as Lehigh County Executive, triggering a special election in the state 22nd District.
On Wednesday, House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, signed writs of election to fill that vacancy, and another also created by the resignation of state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny.
The special election to fill Siegel’s seat will be held on Feb. 24, 2026.State House of Representatives Speaker Joanna McClinton
According to the House Rules, the Speaker must issue a writ within 10 days following a vacancy.
The special election to fill Siegel’s seat will be held on Feb. 24, 2026.
The district represents Allentown’s Center City and East Allentown neighborhoods, and part of Salisbury Township.
Siegel previously told LehighValleyNews.com he intended to resign from the General Assembly on Dec. 31.
Two candidates in the race
Siegel, who won Lehigh County’s top executive post by a wide margin in November, vacated his state legislative seat effective Dec. 17, triggering the special election under Pennsylvania law.
Siegel’s victory was decisive over Republican Roger MacLean, with Siegel getting 60.6% of the vote to MacLean’s 39.3%, marking an expected strong Democratic showing in a county where Republicans had not won the executive seat in two decades.
The Feb. 24 special election will determine who serves the remainder of Siegel’s term in Harrisburg, which runs through November 2026.
Two Democrats have publicly declared campaigns for the seat:
Julian Guridy, a community advocate who has emphasized safe streets and affordable housing as key priorities, launched his campaign with heavy support from local leaders.
Guridy’s family has deep roots in the Allentown community. His father, Julio Guridy, served for years on Allentown City Council and now serves as executive director of the Allentown Housing Authority. Julian Guridy has positioned himself as a candidate focused on addressing constituent needs and expanding housing resources.
- Ce-Ce Gerlach, an Allentown City Councilwoman, also entered the race. Gerlach has focused her campaign messaging on representing working‑class residents of the district and building on local economic and community development.
Both candidates are seeking their party’s nomination for the special election and for the regular election cycle later in 2026.
The local Democratic committee will play a significant role in nominating a candidate for the February special election, as state law allows parties to choose their nominees internally for such contests.
