Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who joined Congress in January, has been a vocal advocate for President Donald Trump while quietly testing the limits of his support in the battleground district of PA-7.

At a debate in Allentown on Thursday, candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Lehigh County Executive gave virtually the same answers to every question.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, defended the Trump administration's tariff policy and DOGE cuts during the 90-minute CNN "Town Hall: America Asks Congress" on Thursday night.

More eyes are on local and international races, especially with billionaire Elon Musk becoming more politically active. Why should anyone care about smaller elections? This week on Political Pulse, Tom Shortell and Chris Borick dive into those details.

Multiple sources tell LehighValleyNews.com that Carol Obando-Derstine is expected to launch a campaign for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. The battleground seat is held by freshman U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, will be one of four House members from battleground districts to take questions from a bipartisan audience and CNN anchors.

Lehigh Valley Public Media comprises LehighValleyNews.com, PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR. Debates to be held in advance of the May 20 primary election include Allentown mayor, Bethlehem mayor, Northampton County executive and Lehigh County executive.

Lehigh Valley business experts said it's too soon to determine how President Donald Trump's across-the-board tariffs of 10% or more will affect the economy but acknowledged that stakes are high.

Candidates for Lower Saucon Township Council and Stockertown Borough Council will remain in their races after Northampton County Judge Craig Dally dismissed or overruled efforts to kick them off the ballot for technical grounds.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell is joined by political scientist Chris Borick to talk about the department, its standing in American politics and its future.

In the race for Whitehall Township commissioners, Democrats Jeffery J. Warren, an incumbent, and Ken Snyder won slots on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. Others on the Democratic ticket are incumbent Randy Artiyeh and Victor Nassar; filling out the Republican ticket are Elizabeth Fox and LoriAnn Fehnel.

The township election is on Nov. 7. Six candidates are clashing over a looming development project.

Allentown voters will decide whether City Council members and the controller get substantial raises. Voters were denied opportunities to vote on term limits and a proposed alternative first response program.

Incumbent Mark Pinsley and challenger Robert Smith face off in the Lehigh County controller race this November. The office is tasked with serving as a fiscal watchdog of the county's half-billion-dollar budget.

Timothy Foley and Anthony Murphy, two Democrats, are challenging two Republican incumbents, John Inglis and Dennis Benner, in the Nov. 7 election. The township hasn't seen a tax increase in three decades.

Discourse between the candidates for Whitehall Township mayor is heating up as Election Day nears.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild has banked more than $1.1 million toward her re-election effort. Meanwhile, three Republicans raised over $302,000 toward their campaigns in the last three months.

Three council seats are open. A slate of Democrat running mates is looking to flip the voting power away from current Republicans.

Allen Issa, a former congressional aide, is the fourth Republican to enter the race for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.

With just one incumbent seeking re-election, Lehigh County voters are guaranteed to place three newcomers on the Lehigh County Board of Elections this November.

East Penn School Board candidates gathered Tuesday evening for a candidate forum hosted by the League of Woman Voters, fielding questions about school safety, transparency, and facilities expansion among other issues.

With a focus on infrastructure and keeping taxes under control, Forks Twp. supervisor candidates Dean Turner and Huntington Keim are focused on the everyday issues as hot topics.