Lehigh Valley Politics and Election News

At a virtual town hall Thursday, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, said he did not support cuts to Medicare or Social Security, called for peace in Ukraine, and gently pushed back on how the Trump administration handled cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Organizers with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, Democratic National Congressional Committee and several other groups invited U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie to a town hall event Thursday over proposed Medicaid cuts. Instead, the first-term Republican will hold his own telephone town hall.

Philip Ginder, 74, who served on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners for 24 years, was appointed on Wednesday to fill the vacancy created when Commissioner Robert Piligian resigned in February.

Candidates for Northampton County Council, Allentown City Council, Allentown mayor and Parkland School Board are being challenged in court for allegedly failing to meet legal requirements to appear on the May ballot.

A Lehigh County judge ruled in favor of LoriAnn Fehnel, a Republican candidate for Whitehall Township Commissioner, who challenged that candidate Betsey H. Charles's nominating petition is invalid and should be set aside.

City officials voted in favor of raising the next council president’s salary from $7,600 to $11,400 a year and council members’ annual pay from $7,100 to $10,650. However, City Council decided against salary increases for the next mayor and controller.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell speaks with Celeste Dee, owner of Lehigh Valley-based Advantage Political Strategies. The two talk about judicial campaigns.

The vacancy on the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners will be filled at a meeting on Wednesday night. The board interviewed three candidates on Monday night.

Whitehall Township treasurer/tax collector Tina Koren is asking the Lehigh County Court to reject Commissioner Thomas Slonaker's nominating petition for her job.

Whitehall Township commissioner Republican candidate LoriAnn Fehnel filed a challenge March 14 against fellow Republican candidate Betsey H. Charles, 3212 Chestnut St., based on deficiencies on the latter’s petition.

The township election is on May 16. The candidates are hoping to make a splash with voters come Election Day.

The candidates are incumbents Jacob Roth and Diane Kelly, Public Safety Commission member Chris Peischl, local business owner and former commissioner Ben Long and former commissioner Thomas Johns.

Easton mayoral candidates Peter Melan and Sal Panto Jr. will partake in an audience-driven debate at Lafayette College Monday, May 8.

Monday, May 1, is the last day to register to vote in the Pennsylvania primary.

Five Republican candidates have signed a pledge to ban transgender students from using the bathroom of their choice and review the curriculum for "wokeness."

Democrat Terry Houck is attempting to secure the Republican nomination for Northampton County district attorney with a write-in campaign. The effort is opposed by Northampton County Republican Committee Chair Glenn Geissinger.

Newcomers looking to unseat three incumbents in primary election for Bethlehem Area school board.

The two positions bring a diverse set of experiences to represent those visiting the polls. The candidates include a project manager, corrections officer, lawyer and horticulture specialist among others.

Five incumbents are running on a record of high test scores and few tax hikes, while five challengers campaign on improvements for the district.

All candidates said they opposed the warehouses, but questions arose surrounding the cost of the ongoing litigation with the developers and potential conflicts of interest.

Three candidates will appear on the ballot for the Upper Macungie Township Supervisor Race in the May primary. One seat will be vacant this fall.

Myers, who in January became the first Black person to serve as council president, accused County Executive Lamont McClure of political maneuvering to force him from office.