Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

Republican Roger MacLean and Democrat Josh Siegel are vying for a four-year term as Lehigh County executive. The winner in the Nov. 4 election will succeed Democrat Phil Armstrong, who cannot run again because of term limits.

Operations at Lehigh Valley International Airport have not suffered from the government shutdown to date, according to Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority officials. However, an increase in air traffic controllers calling out sick during the last shutdown spurred a deal in 2019.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure released a statement Tuesday explaining he would not take a loan to pay the county's bills during the state budget impasse. He urged legislators to adopt a budget and restore the flow of funds.

“We were looking for answers that aligned with our vision as an association for the work that we want to do in the district,” said Allentown Education Association President Leslie Franklin.

Lehigh Valley Political Pulse host Tom Shortell wants to hear from you. Readers are encouraged to submit questions through the link in the article. They may be addressed on a future episode of the program.

Political scientist Chris Borick joined Tom Shortell again this week to try to make sense of the government shutdown and what it all means.

Senate Democrats have refused to fund the federal government unless Republicans agree to extend tax subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Ryan Mackenzie supports the tax subsidies but echoed Republican demands that no deal can be struck until the federal government is funded.

Candidates for Southern Lehigh School Board participated in a forum Tuesday at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. There are seven candidates on the ballot, vying for four seats.

Candidates for Parkland School Board will participate in a forum tonight at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. There are six candidates on the ballot, vying for four seats.

Northampton County Council voted down a measure Thursday that would have required administrators to seek the council's approval before spending money on planned satellite voting offices in Bethlehem and Washington Township.

Doug Mastriano called for restricting rights of trans students in schools and ending pandemic mandates if elected as governor of Pennsylvania.

Attorneys for Lehigh County and the America First Legal Foundation made their cases in a lawsuit that seeks to determine how Lehigh County will use ballot drop boxes in the upcoming election.

More early voting options now available in Northampton County

The men sounded off on issues respectfully in Allentown

Democratic incumbent Susan Wild and Republican challenger Lisa Scheller faced off in a lively first debate for PA-7. The heated exchanges were dwarfed by the unruly crowd, which shouted and jeered throughout the debate. During a break, show staff asked the audience to refrain from cursing during taping.

Northampton County voters can now register and vote in the same visit for the November election.

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong says that regardless of a lawsuit filed by former Trump administration officials, the county will use its five drop boxes in the upcoming election.

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman says more than 5 million residents have used mail-in voting since 2020.

The vote will uphold the 2019 measure allowing any voter to use a mail-in ballot.

Activists are grateful to Gov. Tom Wolf for launching a suit that opposes proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Councilwoman Taiba Sultana said she hopes her resolution will spark change.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano might not administer Pennsylvania law fairly, Dent says.