Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, defended the Trump administration's tariff policy and DOGE cuts during the 90-minute CNN "Town Hall: America Asks Congress" on Thursday night.

More eyes are on local and international races, especially with billionaire Elon Musk becoming more politically active. Why should anyone care about smaller elections? This week on Political Pulse, Tom Shortell and Chris Borick dive into those details.

Multiple sources tell LehighValleyNews.com that Carol Obando-Derstine is expected to launch a campaign for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. The battleground seat is held by freshman U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, will be one of four House members from battleground districts to take questions from a bipartisan audience and CNN anchors.

Lehigh Valley Public Media comprises LehighValleyNews.com, PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR. Debates to be held in advance of the May 20 primary election include Allentown mayor, Bethlehem mayor, Northampton County executive and Lehigh County executive.

Lehigh Valley business experts said it's too soon to determine how President Donald Trump's across-the-board tariffs of 10% or more will affect the economy but acknowledged that stakes are high.

Candidates for Lower Saucon Township Council and Stockertown Borough Council will remain in their races after Northampton County Judge Craig Dally dismissed or overruled efforts to kick them off the ballot for technical grounds.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell is joined by political scientist Chris Borick to talk about the department, its standing in American politics and its future.

Easton United for Democracy, an advocacy group less than a month old, held a protest in the city's Centre Square Sunday to push back against the Trump Administration.

A Republican candidate who had filed a nomination petition withdrew that petition this week amid a challenge. That means the primary ballot for Allentown mayor will include two Democrats and no Republicans.

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.

Election officials in the Lehigh Valley disqualify hundreds of ballots every year due to voter errors such as marked ballots, flawed signatures and missing envelopes.

The Browning campaign recently sent Miller's a cease and desist letter over what it says are false accusations of racism.

Pennsylvania's heated Senate race pits John Fetterman, a Democrat in the mold of Bernie Sanders, against Republican Mehmet Oz, a television star backed by Donald Trump.