Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Three seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are up for retention elections this cycle. Typically a "mundane affair," as described by political scientist Chris Borick, these races now have a lot of eyes on them, with parties looking to flip these judicial seats in swing states.

Lehigh County executive candidates Josh Siegel and Roger MacLean met in a debate Wednesday night hosted by Lehigh Valley Public Media in Bethlehem. Siegel argued the next executive needs to have big plans for the office, where MacLean positioned himself as offering more stability.

Republican Roger MacLean and Democrat Josh Siegel are vying for a four-year term as Lehigh County executive. The winner in the Nov. 4 election will succeed Democrat Phil Armstrong, who cannot run again because of term limits.

Operations at Lehigh Valley International Airport have not suffered from the government shutdown to date, according to Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority officials. However, an increase in air traffic controllers calling out sick during the last shutdown spurred a deal in 2019.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure released a statement Tuesday explaining he would not take a loan to pay the county's bills during the state budget impasse. He urged legislators to adopt a budget and restore the flow of funds.

“We were looking for answers that aligned with our vision as an association for the work that we want to do in the district,” said Allentown Education Association President Leslie Franklin.

Lehigh Valley Political Pulse host Tom Shortell wants to hear from you. Readers are encouraged to submit questions through the link in the article. They may be addressed on a future episode of the program.

Political scientist Chris Borick joined Tom Shortell again this week to try to make sense of the government shutdown and what it all means.

Senate Democrats have refused to fund the federal government unless Republicans agree to extend tax subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Ryan Mackenzie supports the tax subsidies but echoed Republican demands that no deal can be struck until the federal government is funded.

Candidates for Southern Lehigh School Board participated in a forum Tuesday at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. There are seven candidates on the ballot, vying for four seats.

The Republican from Franklin County, Pa., has pushed to overturn the 2020 presidential election

The debate featured 13 candidates who want to be the next governor of Pennsylvania.

Political scientists say the more false claims are rejected, the lower the chance for more political violence.

In a phone interview, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild looked back a year to the day she was whisked from the House chambers to an undisclosed location, hopefully out of harm's way.

The voting machine maker wants the machines to be examined only by an approved inspector.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has boosted fossil fuels and denied climate change.

The former city councilman pledged to work with schools and businesses on diversity issues.

The Democratic candidate for Lehigh County judge will appeal the decision 'immediately.'

Many of the ceremonies will be restricted and streamed online because of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Opponents say a new Lehigh Valley Senate seat splinters rapidly-growing Latino communities.

The city's first Spanish-speaking mayor will be sworn in Jan. 3.

Leigh Chapman will be the Department of State's fifth leader in seven years.