Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Tuesday’s meeting was the last before new election commission members are sworn in. The commission criticized the county’s home rule charter — the charter created the commission — as too vague, leaving officials to scrap over who has what powers.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, voted in favor of it.

Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, did not sign the discharge petition that will force a vote on releasing the Epstein files on Tuesday. However, Mackenzie has said for months he would support the measure if it came to a vote.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie helped secure $1.6 million in earmarks toward a new Alburtis Fire Station. The existing structure is too small to serve a modern fire department.

On this week's episode of Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick dissect the Democratic sweep in elections across the country and the Lehigh Valley last week.

The House passed a bill Wednesday night to end the nation's longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.

Billions of dollars for Pennsylvania’s public schools and social services will soon start flowing after months of delay, as lawmakers on Wednesday approved a $50 billion spending plan to break the state’s budget impasse.

The historic 40-day federal shutdown could be coming to an end after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke ranks on a procedural vote Sunday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro says Pennsylvania's utility companies have stepped up to shelter low-income households this winter. The customers are usually covered by LIHEAP, but the federal assistance program has experienced delays due to the federal government shutdown.

“If my vote is the deciding vote … let me save you the suspense: No va pa sa. It’s not happening,” Councilwoman Cynthia Mota said during her Election Night speech last week.

Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania will debate April 3.

Pennsylvania's election calendar is on hold amid the deliberations.

Gov Wolf appealed the Commonwealth Court's decision, triggering the move to the state's highest court.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will weigh and decide the latest ideas

There are workarounds to problems with technical problems regarding signature verification

Critics of the new maps, like Victor Martinez, say they reduced the number of Latinos in some districts.

The state Supreme Court now will make the ultimate decision on congressional seat boundary lines.

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved the updated maps 4-1 and now the public will weigh in on the maps.

Sen. Lisa Boscola condemns the changes, calls process 'back-room assault on the Lehigh Valley."

The 2022 election could prove to be the most expensive the state has ever seen.

The ACLU filed suit in federal court on behalf of five voters who did not date their ballots.

The deadline to apply is May 10, even with a battle looming in the state Supreme Court.