Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

In a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro, state Rep. Milou Mackenzie asked the Department of State to provide Northampton County with instructions on how to avoid more Election Day mistakes with their voting machines.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure on Friday named a human resources department manager as his acting director of administration. She joined the county in May 2022.

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

Mark Pinsley announced Friday, Dec. 1, that he will run for auditor general in 2024. The position oversees financial and performance audits of Pennsylvania state government.

County Executive Lamont McClure reiterated Thursday he will not step down after the county experienced widespread problems with its voting machines on Election Day. Despite the problems, the county's Election Commission certified the results last week.

Republican Kat Copeland is hoping her experience as a federal and local prosecutor will help her become Pennsylvania's next attorney general.

County Executive Lamont McClure on Friday accepted the resignation of Charles Dertinger, his director of administration and a longtime political ally. As director of administration, Dertinger oversaw the county elections division, which came under scrutiny in the wake of widespread voting machine problems in the Nov. 7 election.

The Northampton County Republican Committee's legal team is in discussions with the Pennsylvania Republican Committee's legal team on how to proceed toward decertifying the county's election machines.

By a 4-1 vote, the Northampton County Election Commission certified the Nov. 7 election results, despite widespread problems with its voting machines.

A federal court has directed Pennsylvania counties to accept mail ballots that a voter has failed to date or misdated, a long-awaited decision that could affect thousands of ballots in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

A Pennsylvania Supreme Court case delayed counties from sending out ballots, leaving voters with less time than usual to send them back in. Northampton County officials are encouraging voters to use drop boxes as a result.

Registered Democrats, Republicans and a few independents who register by Monday, April 8, can cast a ballot in the April 23 primary election.

The former president will visit Schnecksville Fire Hall in North Whitehall Township on Saturday, April 13 — his first visit to the Lehigh Valley since days before the 2020 election.

Kevin Dellicker, Maria Montero and Ryan Mackenzie, the Republicans running for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, spell out what's needed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. (Fifth of five parts)

The three conservatives running for the Lehigh Valley's 7th Congressional District seat agreed that Congress must cut spending to address the nation's record-high national debt. (Fourth of five parts)

The three GOP candidates for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District discussed cutting taxes, reducing regulations and passing a balanced budget amendment as ways to improve the U.S. economy. (Third of five parts)

Maria Montero, Kevin Dellicker and Ryan Mackenzie discuss isolationism, NATO and the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. The three Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination in the 7th Congressional District to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley. (Second of five parts)

After an issue with Northampton County's voting machines disrupted November's general election, the battery of tests designed to make sure equipment works has drawn new scrutiny.

Kevin Dellicker, a Republican candidate for PA-7, said he could support federal legislation setting stricter restrictions on abortion. His opponents in the Republican primary, Ryan Mackenzie and Maria Montero, said the issue of abortion access should be left to the states. (First of five parts)

A divided 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to uphold enforcement of the required date on return envelopes.

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, along with other community leaders and groups, delivered passionate pleas to help with voter turnout this year.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra toured St. Luke's University Health Network facilities in Allentown Monday while making time to speak with Latino voters about the 2024 presidential campaign.