Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

On this week's episode of Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick dissect the Democratic sweep in elections across the country and the Lehigh Valley last week.

The House passed a bill Wednesday night to end the nation's longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.

Billions of dollars for Pennsylvania’s public schools and social services will soon start flowing after months of delay, as lawmakers on Wednesday approved a $50 billion spending plan to break the state’s budget impasse.

The historic 40-day federal shutdown could be coming to an end after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke ranks on a procedural vote Sunday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro says Pennsylvania's utility companies have stepped up to shelter low-income households this winter. The customers are usually covered by LIHEAP, but the federal assistance program has experienced delays due to the federal government shutdown.

“If my vote is the deciding vote … let me save you the suspense: No va pa sa. It’s not happening,” Councilwoman Cynthia Mota said during her Election Night speech last week.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, introduced the bill in 2023 after a student brought a knife to Schnecksville Elementary School. Parents didn't learn of the incident until a week later.

Three Democrats will join the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners in January. The trio appear to have become the first Democrats to be elected to the township governing body in more than a half century.

The winners, based on unofficial results, are Democratic candidates: Kimberly Jaramillo, Luis Melecio, Josh Rager and Chris Sykora — who ran together on a slate.

The councilman fell to defeat Tuesday in his bid for mayor, and his second term on the body ends soon.

In this episode, Chris and Tom talk about the general election and the sprint to November now that the presidential race is officially between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Thirteen speakers urged a packed house of Lehigh Valley Democrats in Bethlehem on Monday night to go to the mat for their candidates in state and federal races this November.

Bad actors are trying to trick Lehigh County voters into clicking a malicious link by claiming their voter registration data needs to be updated. However, the county's Office of Voter Registration doesn't communicate with voters via text.

An attack ad targeting U.S. Rep. Susan Wild left out important context over her record on the U.S. border while an ad supporting her appears to overstate a speaker's credentials as a police officer.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh, Monday night in his bid to defeat U.S Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.

In the inaugural episode of Political Pulse, Tom Shortell and Chris Borick try to get a bead on how Democrats feel about a presidential ticket remade on the fly.

Several local Democratic organizations are hosting a Unity Rally for Democracy at the Steelworkers Union Hall in Bethlehem at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to be her running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

Vice President Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday, according to three people familiar with the decision.

A ballot question in Chapman Borough will ask voters whether its seven-member borough council should shrink to three members. Council members said they cannot find enough people willing to serve in municipal government.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis was in the Lehigh Valley on Monday as officials announced a $20 million federal grant for Allentown. He sat down with LehighValleyNews.com for an exclusive interview as his boss, Gov. Josh Shapiro, is in the running to be Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to launch a battleground tour next week with her yet-to-be-named running mate, with stops in seven swing states stretching from Pennsylvania to Nevada.