Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

This week on Political Pulse, politics reporter Tom and political scientist Chris Borick talk about what the stakes are looking like in the race for Pennsylvania's seventh congressional district.

Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz made a stop at a home in Easton on Monday to stir up support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz's husband, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, just a few weeks shy of Election Day.

Senator Bob Casey and representatives from the Pa. Treasury celebrated the progress of the state's ABLE program, which lets people with serious disabilities save money without jeopardizing their benefits.

The drop box at the Lehigh County Government Center is at the main entrance and is accessible around the clock. The other four locations are inside buildings and available during regular business hours.

A ballot question will allow Allentown residents to weigh in on whether city council should have the power to raise the deed transfer tax. The city's Home Rule Charter has locked the tax at its current rate for decades.

In an effort to keep the community informed and help stop the spread of misinformation, LehighValleyNews.com has partnered with the Center for Media Engagement to look out for — and call out — election misinformation.

Gwen Walz's visit to the Lehigh Valley on Monday is one of two stops that day that will kick off a tour of Pennsylvania. She and Gov. Tim Walz — the Democratic vice presidential candidate — have been married for 30 years.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District Thursday to promote their parties candidates. Democratic incumbent Susan Wild and Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie are locked in one of the tightest U.S. House races in the country.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild leads state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie by six points, according to a Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll released Thursday. However, the results are still within the margin of error for the toss-up district.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild hosted U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., for a tour of Center City Allentown on Wednesday. The local Latino community is growing up and could decide the course of the United States' political future, the pair said.

Shapiro, the state's two-term attorney general, scored a massive 14 percentage point win over Republican rival Doug Mastriano in last week’s midterm election, smashed state campaign finance records and became the first candidate since 1966 to succeed a governor of the same party in Pennsylvania.

Muhlenberg College senior Alex Wagner praised Lehigh Valley political candidates who were present and engaged with college students well before the midterms approached. He said it helped push young voters to the polls, and made a difference in several key races.

"Difficult to accept as the results are, there is no right course but to concede, which I do, and I look to the challenges ahead," Doug Mastriano wrote in his concession to Josh Shapiro in the Pennsylvania governor's race.

Congresswoman Susan Wild expected Democrats to defy historical norms and compete for control of the U.S. House this midterm.

Northampton County's results neatly reflected election returns for governor, U.S. Senate and Congress.

Pennsylvania Democrats believe they will win enough state House seats following Tuesday’s midterm election to secure a majority when the legislature’s new session begins in January.

Republican Jarrett Coleman will replace longtime incumbent Pat Browne as Pennsylvania's 16th District state senator.

Lehigh County's chief clerk of elections said the vote tally went quickly and smoothly for the county's 158 precincts.

Shapiro, 49, of Montgomery County, is a two-term attorney general. He defeated Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano.

Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild pulled out a narrow victory over Republican challenger Lisa Scheller for the Lehigh Valley's seat in Congress.

Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor, engaged in a bruising battle with Republican celebrity heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz

Democrat Mark Pinsley conceded to Jarrett Coleman on Wednesday morning, a little more than 12 hours after the polls closed.