Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Allentown saw almost 500 crashes where a pedestrian was hurt in the past five years, eight of which killed people. Federal funding is contributing $312,000 for a study to improve road safety.

City Council members Ce-Ce Gerlach, Santo Napoli and Candida Affa finished as the top three vote-getters in more than a third of Allentown's precincts in their bids for re-election.

Gavin Holihan, the Democratic and Republican nominee for Lehigh County district attorney, said he hopes to find resources to assist underserved families so at-risk kids today don't become victims or defendants a decade from now.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Republican William Rowe, a write-in candidate for the Bethlehem-area seat on Northampton County Council, will advance to the November election.

Meanwhile, Lehigh County Sheriff Joe Hannah and district attorney candidate Gavin Holihan locked up both primaries in their races.

Members of Northampton County Council's government committee suggested changes to the county home rule charter, including a commission that could rewrite it altogether.

Voter turnout was about 23.74% among Democrats and Republicans in Northampton County — only slightly better than Lehigh County’s 22.5% voter turnout rate.

Take a look at stories throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Unofficial results in Lehigh and Northampton counties suggest voters rallied around candidates for Northampton County Council and Lehigh County district attorney, among others.

As a theater director in the Bethlehem Area School District and a lifelong resident of the city, Justin Amann says he intends to run for a seat on Bethlehem City Council.

In this week's episode, Chris Borick and Tom Shortell talk about the impending second inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, which is a week away.

A Republican from Lower Macungie Township, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie swore to do right by those who elected him from across Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. Lehigh County Judge Melissa Pavlack officiated.

Easton City Council discussed adopting an attendance policy that could penalize officials for missing council or committee meetings, with all but one council member in support.

Northampton County prosecutor Robert Eyer announced Tuesday that he's running to join the county's Court of Common Pleas.

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, with less than a year left in his term, emphasized the need for nonpartisan cooperation, funding and "not being a lame duck" toward the end of his service during a visit to Emmaus Borough Council. He also brought a funding announcement.

The borough heard from five passionate applicants, some brand new to politics — and rejected them all in favor of an eight-year council veteran. Still, they encouraged the other applicants to run for election and even offered to help with paperwork.

Northampton County Council voted Monday to keep Lori Vargo Heffner as the body's president. Though some members called for the council to have a more harmonious 2025, change seemed unlikely after Monday's vote.

Northampton County Commissioner Ron Heckman said Monday he will not seek another term on the county council, while Commissioner John Goffredo announced he will run to keep his seat for four more years.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie and 433 other members of the U.S. House took the oath of office Friday afternoon following a dramatic roll call vote that awarded U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson the speaker's gavel.

Ryan Mackenzie is scheduled to take the oath of office Friday to become the Lehigh Valley's next representative in the U.S. House. But those plans may be put on hold if the chamber can't rally around a speaker.

Former President Jimmy Carter urged Lafayette College students to create a greater, more peaceful America during a speech on the Easton campus in 2013. His longtime foreign affairs adviser Robert Pastor was an alumnus.