Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

The Pennsylvania Department of State is starting a new office to help train county election workers, Pa. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. It also plans to update its guidance for logic and accuracy testing that could have caught issues with the Northampton County voting machines.

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.

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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.

Polls say John Fetterman is neck-and-neck against Mehmet Oz in the race for U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Toomey. Fetterman will swing through the Lehigh Valley on Thursday for a canvassing event with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.

Registered Democrats account for 67% of mail-in ballots ahead of Election Day in the Lehigh Valley.

The two candidates are making their final pushes towards getting voters on their side in the district that includes parts of South Allentown, parts of western Salisbury Township, and the borough of Emmaus. Both have name recognition within different parts of the district, which incorporates and leaves out parts of the old 22nd and 134th districts.

Pennsylvania's high court says officials aren't allowed to count votes from mail-in or absentee ballots that lack accurate, handwritten dates on their return envelopes.

Campaign finance reports show Lisa Scheller and Susan Wild have spent more than $10.1 million in the 7th Congressional District race.

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley and Parkland School Board Director Jarrett Coleman are campaigning to represent much of Bucks and Lehigh counties in the state senate.

Incumbent 132nd state House District Representative Michael Schlossberg, a Democrat, will face challengers Beth Finch, a Republican, and Matthew Schutter, a Libertarian, on Nov. 8

The third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives spoke during Sunday's service at Greater Shiloh Church. He urged voters to keep Democrats in control of Pennsylvania's 7th District, and the House.

The candidates differed on inflation, public safety, fiscal strategies and more as the two joined each other on stage for the debate hosted by WFMZ's "Business Matters" Thursday.

Democrat Mark Pinsley and Republican Jarrett Coleman traded verbal jabs during Thursday's half-hour debate hosted by Business Matters.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley addressed about 150 donors at a Lisa Scheller political fundraiser Wednesday night. Scheller, a Republican, is attempting to oust Democratic incumbent Susan Wild from PA's 7th Congressional District.

John Fetterman's health and familiar attack ads dominated the debate between Pennsylvania's senate candidates Tuesday night. Fetterman and Oz touched on a wide array of subjects, from abortion to gun control to the economy to the candidates' personal background.