Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Incumbent Terry Houck and challenger Stephen Baratta each made their case to voters in a contentious town hall. Houck is in the final year of his first term. Baratta retired after 25 years as a county judge to run for the top prosecutor job.

Students, parents and area residents responded to a pledge by some Republican candidates to out transgender students and censor "woke" curriculum in the Southern Lehigh School District.

A judge ruled Allentown City Councilwoman Candida Affa turned in enough signatures to make the Democratic ballot. Tina Jo Koren, a Republican candidate for Whitehall Township mayor, fought off an challenge to her statement of financial interests.

A century after the first women were elected to Pennsylvania’s state legislature, both chambers now have women at their helm.

Public Safety Commission member Chris Peischl is running for a seat on the Board of Commissioners. He has worked in Emergency Management Services for the past 30 years and has served in several positions in the Greenawalds Fire Company, including firefighter and assistant chief.

Diane Kelly, the president of South Whitehall commissioners, is running for re-election. She was first elected to the board in 2019 and is the longest-standing member.

Senior Judge Edward Reibman ruled William Rowe can stay on the Republican primary ballot because his challenger failed to establish standing in the case.

At a press conference Thursday, DA candidate Stephen Baratta criticized incumbent district attorney Terry Houck over three cases from his tenure. Houck hit back in response.

Kerry Myers, who represents the Easton area on Northampton County Council, will not appear on the primary ballot after losing a petition challenge.

Shapiro wants to eliminate both the sales and use tax and the gross receipts tax on cell phone services. Doing so would save Pennsylvanians $124 million each year.

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.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, both seeking the Lehigh Valley's seat in the next Congress, each cast themselves as a moderate facing a radical in a debate Sunday.

The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County will hold a meet-and-greet from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Active Life Center senior center at 1633 Elm St. in Allentown.

The program of mental health professionals and trained volunteers makes contact with families reeling after a loved one's suicide. The group has responded to 20 of 22 suicides in Lehigh County so far in 2024.

What feels like a local housing crisis is actually a “global phenomenon” across all income levels, state Rep. Josh Siegel, D-Lehigh, said at a housing summit Friday.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on procedural grounds that a lower court should not have taken up the case because it did not draw in the election boards in all 67 counties.

State Rep. Siegel, 29, became the first candidate to publicly disclose plans to run for Lehigh County executive. The 29-year-old Democrat previously served on Allentown City Council and worked for Lehigh County government for five years.

Democrats said they wanted Vice President Kamala Harris to provide more details about her policies while Republicans acknowledge she presents a more serious challenge to former President Donald Trump.