Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

The House passed a bill Wednesday night to end the nation's longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.

Billions of dollars for Pennsylvania’s public schools and social services will soon start flowing after months of delay, as lawmakers on Wednesday approved a $50 billion spending plan to break the state’s budget impasse.

The historic 40-day federal shutdown could be coming to an end after eight members of the Democratic caucus broke ranks on a procedural vote Sunday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro says Pennsylvania's utility companies have stepped up to shelter low-income households this winter. The customers are usually covered by LIHEAP, but the federal assistance program has experienced delays due to the federal government shutdown.

“If my vote is the deciding vote … let me save you the suspense: No va pa sa. It’s not happening,” Councilwoman Cynthia Mota said during her Election Night speech last week.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, introduced the bill in 2023 after a student brought a knife to Schnecksville Elementary School. Parents didn't learn of the incident until a week later.

Three Democrats will join the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners in January. The trio appear to have become the first Democrats to be elected to the township governing body in more than a half century.

The winners, based on unofficial results, are Democratic candidates: Kimberly Jaramillo, Luis Melecio, Josh Rager and Chris Sykora — who ran together on a slate.

The councilman fell to defeat Tuesday in his bid for mayor, and his second term on the body ends soon.

With an unusually politicized Supreme Court retention question on the ballot Tuesday, Lehigh Valley voters overwhelmingly backed Democratic candidates.

First-time candidate Cindy O'Brien won the Republican primary in the race for Bethlehem Area School Board.

Two of the three candidates supported by Moms for Liberty Northampton survived the primary, both being in Region I.

Tuesday's primary election set up a number of races for the fall general election. Here are capsules from Lehigh and Northampton counties.

WLVR’s Brad Klein spoke with politics reporter Tom Shortell early Wednesday about primary results for the Lehigh Valley, voter turnout, and the finer points of ‘cross-filing’.

Check out this roundup of Lehigh Valley election night races, and click within each to read the full stories.

Democrats Sheila Alvarado, Dan Hartzell, April Riddick and Jon Irons appear set to advance to the November general election for Lehigh County commissioner.

The race featured two slates of Republican candidates and one Democrat. One slate of candidates took a pledge to enact policies regarding LGBTQ students and "woke" curriculum.

Seven candidates competed for three spots on the Allentown City Council in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

The fierce Democratic primary race for Northampton County District Attorney could go to a rematch in November, as challenger Stephen Baratta claims victory in the Democratic primary and Terry Houck says he won the Republican race.

The Bethlehem native cited her goals to address affordable housing, bolster small businesses and continue her hands-on work within the community.

The two opposing candidate groups in the Parkland School Board race have won the Democratic and Republican nominations, according to unofficial results.

Both candidates say they want to wait until the final count is in Wednesday before declaring victory, but according to unofficial results from Lehigh County election, they will now be face off for Whitehall mayor in November.