Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

The Lehigh Valley's congressional showdown already is shaping up to be among the nation's costliest races for 2026. Tom Shortell and Chris Borick break it all down in this week's Political Pulse.

More than a month past the budget deadline, Lehigh Valley state Sens. Jarrett Coleman and Nick Miller offered little optimism a deal was around the corner.

U.S. Reps. Ryan Mackenzie and Lisa McClain praised the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for helping manufacturing companies and workers during a tour of Ampal Inc. in Lower Towamensing Township.

Between delayed state funding and federal cuts, Second Harvest Food Bank does not have enough food to meet demand, its leaders say.

Lehigh Country Controller Mark Pinsley criticized President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie for gutting the social safety net and Democratic leaders for failing to offer effective resistance.

Mark Pinsley is the fourth Democrat to challenge Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in the Lehigh Valley's battleground district in the 2026 midterm.

Ed Zucal lost the Democratic primary by more than 60 percentage points but earned almost 500 write-in votes from Allentown Republicans to carry the contest into November.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick discuss how President Trump is attempting to redefine citizenship, including challenges to century-old legal findings.

The Lehigh Valley’s James Lawson Freedom School is a six-week summer program that uses a multicultural literacy curriculum and an intergenerational teaching model.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, said Congress should intervene if the Trump administration fails to release details of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The sex offender and financier's death in custody in 2019 has sparked years of speculation and conspiracy theories.

"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.

Pa. State Sen. Lisa Boscola secured a seventh term Tuesday, handily defeating opponent John Merhottein.

Republican Milou Mackenzie faced a rematch with Democratic challenger Kevin Branco.