Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

President Donald Trump campaigned on immigration enforcement and recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have gained national and local attention. This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick look into the public's reaction to these raids.

Larry O’Donnell, a 15-year borough resident, was appointed to fill a council vacancy through the end of the year.

The U.S. Senate could vote on the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act this week. If passed, millions of Americans would lose access to Medicaid and SNAP benefits in order to fund border security and tax cuts to wealthy Americans.

The emergence of the gig economy has altered the American workforce and created questions about what benefits and protections independent contractors should have under federal law. U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, discussed that during the roundtable.

Bill Bachenberg is a major supporter of President Trump and co-owner of Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in North Whitehall Township. A former board member, he recently became president of the National Rifle Association.

Federal immigration officials on Friday issued their first statement since arresting 17 people at the Five10 Flats on June 11. Mayor J. Williams Reynolds this week described the arrests as "an American tragedy."

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, got an earful from a constituent Saturday after he accused protesters of feeding a charged political environment that's led to assassinations.

Emrick Boulevard in Bethlehem Township hosted the first of four rallies organized in the Lehigh Valley to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C., on Trump's 79th birthday. At least one physical confrontation occurred.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie voted in line with the Republican majority to strip more than $1 billion of federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over the next two years.

Ryan Crosswell, a recent arrival in the Lehigh Valley, is the third Democrat to get in line to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. The seat should be one of the most contested U.S. House races in the 2026 midterms.

The six-way race included three Democrats and three Republicans.

In April, Santiago scrambled to collect enough votes to be able to run in the primary election.

The Allentown City Council member will face Republican Robert E. Smith Jr. in November's general election.

Mackenzie, who has served in the House since 2012, is all but assured another 2-year term.

A state senator since 2019, Mastriano had former President Donald Trump's endorsement.

The 52-year-old from western Pa. defeated U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and 2 other candidates.

The ACLU contends 257 unsigned ballots from Lehigh County should be counted.

The seat was created when legislative maps were redrawn earlier this year.

Fetterman says he expects to make a full recovery and return to the campaign trail soon.

An overwhelming number of mail-in ballot requests statewide and locally come from registered Democrats.

Acting DOS Secretary Leigh Chapman said her conversation with Lehigh County DA Jim Marting was 'brief' and 'cordial.'

At very least, the remapping has divided the city of Allentown, leaders say.