Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana said late Friday that she has filed a formal police report after being subjected to "aggressive harassment, intimidation and politically motivated threats" during the city Christmas Parade.

Lehigh County Democratic Committee Chair Lori McFarland said precinct committee people living in Pennsylvania's 22nd state House District could determine their nominee in the upcoming special election. Candidate Ce-Ce Gerlach believes that would put the choice in the hands of just six or seven people.

Northampton County officials, armed with 30 numbered ping pong balls, settled 116 tied races Friday left undecided in this month's municipal election.

Julian Guridy, the son of former Allentown City Councilman Julio Guridy, has worked in constituent services for state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, the past two years

Ending the shutdown: Political scientist Chris Borick joins Tom Shortell for this episode of Political Pulse to help break down the breakthrough between Democrats and Republicans.

Tuesday’s meeting was the last before new election commission members are sworn in. The commission criticized the county’s home rule charter — the charter created the commission — as too vague, leaving officials to scrap over who has what powers.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, voted in favor of it.

Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, did not sign the discharge petition that will force a vote on releasing the Epstein files on Tuesday. However, Mackenzie has said for months he would support the measure if it came to a vote.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie helped secure $1.6 million in earmarks toward a new Alburtis Fire Station. The existing structure is too small to serve a modern fire department.

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.

Northampton County Elections Office is seeking 10 additional county registered voters to serve as poll workers for the primary election on April 23 and general election on Nov. 5.

The legislation would allow gun owners to keep their weapon stored in their car, but would make it a misdemeanor offense to bring it inside a polling place.

The nominating petition for Taiba Sultana, a candidate for Pennsylvania's 136th House District, contained a questionable signature belonging to a Lisa Boscola. State Sen. Lisa Boscola and incumbent state Rep. Robert Freeman are accusing her of fraud.

Tuesday served as a preview of the political campaigns to come as candidates filed paperwork to appear on the April primary ballot. Voters will decide races for president, Congress and the General Assembly among others this year.

Candidates for president, Congress, the General Assembly and Pennsylvania's row offices must file their petitions with the state by Tuesday. Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley could be a critical swing region at both the national and state levels.

Allen Issa, a former congressional aide and Penn State Law student, endorsed Maria Montero for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District race.

Northampton County's newest member, Jeffrey Corpora, was appointed to the body Wednesday afternoon. Corpora said even he is not exactly sure how he was selected.

Given expected shortages, Allentown high schools and others are connecting the county elections staff with students in hopes of beefing up the number of young and bilingual poll workers.

Republican congressional candidates Maria Montero and Ryan Mackenzie criticized U.S. Rep. Susan Wild after she said Carbon County "drank the Trump Kool-Aid" on a conference call with prominent Pennsylvania Democrats.

Campaign finance reports show Republican Kevin Dellicker outraised the rest of the GOP field combined in his bid for PA-7. But Democratic incumbent Susan Wild raised twice as much as all of the Republicans put together.

Newly sworn-in Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta expects it will take him more than a year to fill his roster of prosecutors. In the meantime, his office has to deal with a massive backlog of cases.

Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana, no stranger to controversy over the past year, has announced a run for the Pa. House's 136th District.