Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Democratic voters in Pennsylvania's 16th and 18th Senate districts may have contested races this spring. Meanwhile, Republican Zach Mako is seeking re-election in Pennsylvania's 183rd House District.

The special election will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the 22nd House District, which covers parts of East Allentown, Center City and a part of Salisbury Township. The debate was broadcast live on PBS39 and streamed here at LehighValleyNews.com.

Joining host Tom Shortell on this week's Political Pulse, Ryan Crosswell said his campaign is focused on two priorities: lowering costs for families and defending democratic institutions.

Appearing on this week's Lehigh Valley Political Pulse with host Tom Shortell, Pinsley framed his campaign around what he described as “bread and butter issues,” arguing that rising costs remain the central concern for voters, and that corporate power is to blame.

Gov. Josh Shapiro's 2026-27 budget proposal falls back on familiar proposals to regulate skill games and legalize marijuana, two flashpoints that fueled a months-long budget impasse last year.

The rich got richer in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District race at the close of 2025. Campaign finance reports show Ryan Mackenzie, Bob Brooks and Ryan Crosswell raised nearly $1.4 million while Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine and Mark Pinsley each saw their campaigns lose money.

Lehigh County election staff are preparing new polling places and drop box spots for the Feb. 24 special election for the state's 22nd House District between Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert Smith Jr.

Lehigh Valley Public Media is organizing the debate between Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. It will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, at Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown. The special election is Feb. 24.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie defended expanded immigration enforcement under the Trump administration while acknowledging the need for reforms after recent incidents involving federal agents.

The live, hourlong show will be broadcast at 7 tonight and explore how the Trump administration and policies are influencing the Lehigh Valley. It will be hosted by PBS39's Brittany Sweeney and is available on several channels.

Mail-in ballot counting kicked off in Lehigh County this morning just before 9 a.m. WLVR’s Tyler Pratt was there, along with poll watchers as the first ballots were opened and the first “naked ballots” were found.

Senator and Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris was in the Lehigh Valley today as part of Biden's final campaign blitz across the Keystone State.

As millions of Pennsylvanians are expected to take to the polls for in-person voting tomorrow, the state’s top health official is asking residents to take COVID precautions.

Control of the state legislature is at play this Election Day. For years, Republicans have dominated Pennsylvania’s House and Senate. But now, Democrats see a path to take control of both chambers.

Pennsylvania officials are imploring voters to return their mail-in ballots now, and in-person at drop boxes - following a recent decision from the U-S Supreme Court that’s called into question the future of ballots that arrive after 8 p.m. on Election Day - and whether they’ll be counted immediately.

With the election less than a week away, Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley are in the spotlight. Wednesday, Allentown was a stop on the democratic campaign trail for Doug Emhoff, husband of democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a quick, pre-election review on Wednesday to a new Republican appeal on mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania. The GOP sought to exclude votes received after Election Day. But the matter isn’t completely settled yet.

Voter registration for the presidential election topped nine million this year in PA, an all-time high.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally this morning in Allentown as part of a trio of stops today across the state as candidates head into a pitched battle for the swing state’s 20 electoral votes.

WLVR’s Community Correspondent Genesis Ortega spoke with Jose Rosado, the first Latino to be elected mayor in the history of Pennsylvania - in Fountain Hill. He says that getting even a third of registered Latinos to the polls could swing the election -- but that political parties need to do more to reach those voters.

Mail-in voters have until election day to cast their ballot, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar is recommending voters do not wait, and where possible avoid using the mail.

Voter registration totals have reached a record high in Pennsylvania - and officials say they’re expecting record turnout on election day as well.