ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Special Election Day in Pennsylvania’s 22nd House District went smoothly for those who voted Tuesday, according to Lehigh County’s top election official.
Polling stations across East Allentown and parts of Salisbury Township opened for residents in 25 precincts to cast their votes in the race between Democrat Ana Tiburcio and Republican Robert E. Smith Jr.
Turnout won't be known until all votes are counted after polls close at 8 p.m., but a “limited” number of people cast their ballots during the first few hours of Tuesday's special election.Lehigh County Elections and Registration Chief Tim Benyo
They are vying to serve out the remainder of state Rep. Josh Siegel’s term representing the district.
Siegel resigned in December to become Lehigh County executive.
There were few issues, though some residents who typically vote in Allentown School District facilities were redirected to different polling places because classes were in session Tuesday, according to Lehigh County Elections and Registration Chief Tim Benyo.
Turnout won't be known until all votes are counted after polls close at 8 p.m., but a “limited” number of people cast their ballots during the first few hours of Tuesday's special election, Benyo said.
There was no line about 1 p.m. at the East Side Social Hall, which became a polling place in lieu of the East Side Youth Center.
Just under half of the 1,271 mail-in ballots requested for the race were returned by the start of voting Tuesday, according to Benyo.
The Lehigh County Elections Office was expecting two more mail deliveries Tuesday that could add to that total.
Democrats offer support amid pushback
Voter registration in the 22nd District overwhelmingly favors Democrats, who have a 32-point edge over Republicans in the district.
It’s also a seat that Democrats must win if they hope to maintain their slim majority in the state House.
Despite the advantage Democrats have on paper, prominent local Democrats in the region have been hitting the campaign trail on Tiburcio’s behalf.
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, and state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, posted photos of themselves going door-to-door on Tiburcio’s behalf Saturday.
State Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, was spotted outside an Allentown polling place Tuesday morning urging voters to support Tiburcio.
Rain, snow, freezing temps… nothing is going to slow us down in the race to elect Ana Tiburcio on Tuesday!
— Peter Schweyer (@peter_schweyer) February 22, 2026
REMINDER: If you live in HD-22 (parts of Allentown & Salisbury), you have a VERY important election on Tues, Feb. 24. Make your plan to vote, stay warm, and have fun! pic.twitter.com/azRaGq02OP
The support from local elected leaders comes amongst grassroots intraparty pushback against the Democratic nominee.
State Democratic officials selected Tiburcio after Julian Guridy, the candidate local party officials rallied around, pulled out because of residency issues.
Following Tiburcio’s performance at the race’s only debate, several local Democratic leaders — including Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons and former state representative candidate Enid Santiago — criticized the party for choosing who they said was an unprepared candidate over Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach.
Tiburcio, who did not seek the nomination, struggled with some of her responses to questions posed by Lehigh Valley Public Media moderators.
Candidates were allowed to ask their opponent three questions, but Tiburcio only opted to ask one.
Both state and local officials passed over Gerlach in the nomination process.
But she’s now waging a write-in campaign for the special election and is running in the May primary for the position.
