Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

A former federal prosecutor now running for Congress, Ryan Croswell quit in February when President Donald Trump's administration dropped corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in return for his cooperation on immigration enforcement. Crosswell is among five candidates vying for the opportunity to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a top target of Democrats in next year's midterm election, when control of the U.S. House will be on the line.

Millions of Americans will see their health premiums double if Congress doesn't extend tax credits for the Affordable Care Act beyond Dec. 31. U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, attached his name to last-ditch efforts to preserve the tax credits.

On this week’s episode of Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick talk about President Donald Trump’s campaign promises. The two talk about whether his ability to deliver on these promises impacted his approval ratings positively or negatively.

Prosecutors finally shared details of the charges with some defendants after three-and-a-half months, but a court order bars them from disclosing any of the information publicly.

The AP said Vance’s remarks will focus on the economy and aim to assure voters that the administration is working to address inflation, according to his office.

President Donald Trump blamed and insulted Democrats for the nation's high prices and inflation during a rally at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County on Tuesday night. The president pointed to his tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as evidence of how Republicans are righting the economy.

Republicans in key battleground U.S. House districts are working to contain the political fallout that may come when thousands of their constituents face higher bills for health insurance coverage obtained through the Affordable Care Act.

Josh Siegel wants to pursue a housing plan utilized in Montgomery County, Maryland, to create 1,500 apartment units in the region. His transition team includes a committee tasked with responding to Trump administration directives.

The coalition of 35 House lawmakers is led by Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia. They’re calling for a vote by Dec. 18 in both chambers of Congress, ahead of the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits by year's end.

“These signs of erosion within the Republican unity around the president and his policy proposals," political scientist Chris Borick said on this week's Political Pulse.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie visited Ward Transport & Logistics Corp. in Easton, where he got feedback about federal regulations on truck drivers and concerns about Pennsylvania's emission standards.

Justin Simmons, the former Republican state representative, was among three people who filed nomination papers last week to seek the party's nomination in the May 20 primary election.

Democratic VIPs including U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, DNC Chair Ken Martin and former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild attended the town hall at Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Thursday night. The evening came with a rebuke to attendees from the church pastor.

At a virtual town hall Thursday, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, said he did not support cuts to Medicare or Social Security, called for peace in Ukraine, and gently pushed back on how the Trump administration handled cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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.