Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

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

Tuesday was the deadline for candidates in scores of political races to file their nominating petitions in hopes of getting on 2025 election ballots. Here's a look at how some of the races are shaping up.

Gwen Walz's visit to the Lehigh Valley on Monday is one of two stops that day that will kick off a tour of Pennsylvania. She and Gov. Tim Walz — the Democratic vice presidential candidate — have been married for 30 years.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District Thursday to promote their parties candidates. Democratic incumbent Susan Wild and Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie are locked in one of the tightest U.S. House races in the country.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild leads state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie by six points, according to a Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll released Thursday. However, the results are still within the margin of error for the toss-up district.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild hosted U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., for a tour of Center City Allentown on Wednesday. The local Latino community is growing up and could decide the course of the United States' political future, the pair said.

The leading lawmakers for the Democratic and Republican parties will hold competing events in Northampton County on Thursday.

The Louisiana Republican, who became House speaker nearly a year ago, will rally with 7th Congressional District candidate Ryan Mackenzie in Northampton County, according to a campaign advisory.

Longtime state Rep. Gary Day, a Republican, throws his hat back into the fray against political newcomer Stefanie Rafes, a Democrat, for the 187th House District seat in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

This week on Political Pulse, Tom and Chris talk about the "election environment," and how, in recent years, there's been an increase in concern for election security.

Organized by Hispanos Con McCormick, local and state Republican Party leaders spoke about the importance of voting early and encouraging others to vote, as well as supporting all Republicans on the ballot.

Northampton County officials on Monday began testing all nearly 300 voting machines set to be used in the upcoming general election. What was a much-scrutinized task before this year's primary is back to being a sleepy part of the pre-vote process.

Despite it being a Republican hotbed, Democratic challenger Joseph Lenzi believes he can defeat incumbent Rep. Zachary Mako in the 183rd District.

State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh, and U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, have each labeled one another extremists while campaigning for the moderate-leaning PA-7 Congressional District.