Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

At a debate in Allentown on Thursday, candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Lehigh County Executive gave virtually the same answers to every question.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, defended the Trump administration's tariff policy and DOGE cuts during the 90-minute CNN "Town Hall: America Asks Congress" on Thursday night.

More eyes are on local and international races, especially with billionaire Elon Musk becoming more politically active. Why should anyone care about smaller elections? This week on Political Pulse, Tom Shortell and Chris Borick dive into those details.

Multiple sources tell LehighValleyNews.com that Carol Obando-Derstine is expected to launch a campaign for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. The battleground seat is held by freshman U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, will be one of four House members from battleground districts to take questions from a bipartisan audience and CNN anchors.

Lehigh Valley Public Media comprises LehighValleyNews.com, PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR. Debates to be held in advance of the May 20 primary election include Allentown mayor, Bethlehem mayor, Northampton County executive and Lehigh County executive.

Lehigh Valley business experts said it's too soon to determine how President Donald Trump's across-the-board tariffs of 10% or more will affect the economy but acknowledged that stakes are high.

Candidates for Lower Saucon Township Council and Stockertown Borough Council will remain in their races after Northampton County Judge Craig Dally dismissed or overruled efforts to kick them off the ballot for technical grounds.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell is joined by political scientist Chris Borick to talk about the department, its standing in American politics and its future.

Easton United for Democracy, an advocacy group less than a month old, held a protest in the city's Centre Square Sunday to push back against the Trump Administration.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, is making his first visit to the Lehigh Valley since Vice President Kamala Harris introduced him as her running mate against former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. JD Vance.

The Kamala Harris campaign is rolling out a lineup of Latino VIPs in a bid to connect with Hispanic voters in the Lehigh Valley. Today's visit to the Lehigh Valley by Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is just the latest effort.

Tim Walz will hold a rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township on Saturday. His appearance in the Lehigh Valley had been known for days, but the campaign didn't reveal the location for the rally until late Friday afternoon.

Join Megan Frank at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Friday for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, she's joined by politics reporter Tom Shortell and health and wellness reporter Brittany Sweeney.

The Puerto Rican political activist and author was in town to promote his new memoir "Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That is Transforming America."

Browne, who authored the one-of-a-kind Neighborhood Improvement Zone, has long worked to keep some tax revenue data out of the public eye. Releasing some categories of tax revenue would amount to publishing individuals' tax returns.

Northampton County elections officials are on track to mail out absentee ballots in early October, according to Registrar of Elections Chris Commini.

During a panel hosted Tuesday by the Muhlenberg College Political Science Department, elections experts said to expect to wait a while for election results come Nov. 5 — but not as long as the multi-day counts of 2020.

Katie Couric spoke to a crowd of nearly 700 as part of Lehigh University's Compelling Perspectives series. The former network news anchor addressed the role of media in contemporary society.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will rally in the Lehigh Valley on Saturday — his first visit as candidate for vice president.

New Pennsylvania Project led a short news conference with Allentown's Soldiers and Sailors Monument as its backdrop Tuesday, seven weeks from Election Day.

This week on Political Pulse, Tom and Chris discuss the latest trends emerging from science-based polls to break down local, state and national campaigns and issues.