Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

President Joe Biden said he would use his remaining time in office to pursue Supreme Court reforms, among other goals.

The head of the Pennsylvania State Police said two local law enforcement officers stationed in the complex of buildings where the gunman opened fire at former President Donald Trump left to go search for the man before the shooting. State police testified before a congressional hearing Tuesday.

Mayor Matt Tuerk is set to attend an event hosted by the vice president this week. But it’s unclear whether Kamala Harris will be there after officially launching her presidential campaign Tuesday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is believed to be on the short list of vice-presidential candidates that presumed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is considering.

As support coalesces around Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's nominee for president, the conversation has turned to a potential running mate. Among the leading contenders is Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Lehigh County Democratic Chair Lori McFarland and political organizer Aidan Levinson said they could rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket. They are among the Lehigh Valley's contingent of delegates heading to the Democratic National Convention in August.

President Joe Biden announced he will end his bid for reelection and support Kamala Harris for the presidency. Lehigh Valley politicians were quick to weigh in with their thoughts after weeks of speculation about Biden's fitness for office and his future.

The Democratic Party's convention is a little less than a month away. Even with President Joe Biden endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be his successor, there are unanswered questions about logistics, money and political fallout.

President Joe Biden's decision comes in the wake of a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about Biden's fitness for office just four months before the election. Biden said he is throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s instant favorite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago.

Northampton County Council voted down a resolution Thursday that endorsed the idea of free and fair elections but did not affect county operations. Some members have grown frustrated with such messaging legislation in recent weeks.

Organizers with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, Democratic National Congressional Committee and several other groups invited U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie to a town hall event Thursday over proposed Medicaid cuts. Instead, the first-term Republican will hold his own telephone town hall.

Philip Ginder, 74, who served on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners for 24 years, was appointed on Wednesday to fill the vacancy created when Commissioner Robert Piligian resigned in February.

Candidates for Northampton County Council, Allentown City Council, Allentown mayor and Parkland School Board are being challenged in court for allegedly failing to meet legal requirements to appear on the May ballot.

A Lehigh County judge ruled in favor of LoriAnn Fehnel, a Republican candidate for Whitehall Township Commissioner, who challenged that candidate Betsey H. Charles's nominating petition is invalid and should be set aside.

City officials voted in favor of raising the next council president’s salary from $7,600 to $11,400 a year and council members’ annual pay from $7,100 to $10,650. However, City Council decided against salary increases for the next mayor and controller.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell speaks with Celeste Dee, owner of Lehigh Valley-based Advantage Political Strategies. The two talk about judicial campaigns.

The vacancy on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners will be filled at a meeting on Wednesday night. The board interviewed three candidates on Monday night.

Whitehall Township treasurer/tax collector Tina Koren is asking the Lehigh County Court to reject Commissioner Thomas Slonaker's nominating petition for her job.

Whitehall Township commissioner Republican candidate LoriAnn Fehnel filed a challenge March 14 against fellow Republican candidate Betsey H. Charles, 3212 Chestnut St., based on deficiencies on the latter’s petition.

Gerald C. Yob has been mayor of Freemansburg for 44 years. He served on borough council 12 years before that. Yob turns 96 in August, and plans on running for a 12th term as mayor.

Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners have until March 29 to fill the vacancy and will conduct public interviews with candidates on Monday starting at 6 p.m.

H.B. 827 was proposed by State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton. The bill aims to establish a tutoring program in which high school students could receive academic credit for being tutors