Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana said late Friday that she has filed a formal police report after being subjected to "aggressive harassment, intimidation and politically motivated threats" during the city Christmas Parade.

Lehigh County Democratic Committee Chair Lori McFarland said precinct committee people living in Pennsylvania's 22nd state House District could determine their nominee in the upcoming special election. Candidate Ce-Ce Gerlach believes that would put the choice in the hands of just six or seven people.

Northampton County officials, armed with 30 numbered ping pong balls, settled 116 tied races Friday left undecided in this month's municipal election.

Julian Guridy, the son of former Allentown City Councilman Julio Guridy, has worked in constituent services for state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, the past two years

Ending the shutdown: Political scientist Chris Borick joins Tom Shortell for this episode of Political Pulse to help break down the breakthrough between Democrats and Republicans.

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.

Ed Zucal had almost 500 Republican write-in votes as of Thursday afternoon, several hundred more than Mayor Matt Tuerk.

Allentown mayoral candidate Ed Zucal is confident he secured enough write-in votes to advance on the Republican ticket, but Lehigh County has yet to release the number of write-in votes at play. Incumbent Mayor Matt Tuerk dominated the Democratic primary with 80% of the vote.

Cristian Pungo, the candidate Daryl Hendricks trails by just 25 votes, was hesitant to claim victory Wednesday.

Roger MacLean, a former Allentown police chief, will take on state Rep. Josh Siegel in the November election for Lehigh County executive.

Included here are complete but unofficial results of contested races in Northampton County for the 2025 primary election.

Included here are complete but unofficial results of contested races in Lehigh County for the 2025 primary election.

Jeremy Clark and James Fuller will face off in November in the race for a seat on the Northampton County bench. Meanwhile, Republican Patricia Mulqueen and Democrat Mark Stanziola will compete for the new judicial seat in Lehigh County.

Incumbent Mayor J. William Reynolds said he wants to continue working at making housing more attainable and affordable, investing in public safety, creating jobs and supporting investment in parks and streets.

With ballots counted from all but one of Northampton County's 157 polling precincts, unofficial results show Zrinski ahead by roughly 13.7% of the vote.

Unofficial results show incumbent Mayor Matt Tuerk handily defeating Councilman Ed Zucal. The mayor has earned just over 80% of the 5,100-plus votes counted by 10:30 p.m.

Incumbent Easton City Council members Taiba Sultana and Roger Ruggles lost in the Democratic primary, according to unofficial election returns. Susan Hartranft-Bittinger defeated Sultana and Frank Graziano outpaced Ruggles.

Polling places across the Lehigh Valley faced mainly light turnout throughout Primary Election Day, with early morning turnout lagging.