Pennsylvania, and Northampton County in particular, will be at the center of the action this Nov. 8 election. From the races for Pennsylvania General Assembly to the U.S. Senate and everything in between, the Lehigh Valley’s midterm contest is shaping up to be one of the most contentious in the country.
This guide will be looking at what is on the ballot of someone whose registered mailing address is here at Lafayette. Those registered elsewhere in Pennsylvania or out of state can use vote411.org, vote.org or their local county elections office to find information on who is running, as well as where and how they can vote.
Getting to the polls
All Pennsylvania voters must be registered by Oct. 24. Mail-in ballots must be requested by Nov. 1. If you are unsure of your voter registration status or polling location, this information can be found at vote.pa.gov.
Lafayette students voting in person can do so at Kirby Sports Center between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Those who are in line to vote by 8 p.m. cannot be turned away. For those who elect to vote by mail, ballots must be received by the Northampton County Office of Elections and Voter Registration, located at 669 Washington Street, by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 without exceptions for ballots merely postmarked by that time.
Who is on the ballot and what is at stake?
United States Senate
Term: Six years
Office description: The Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with two Senators representing each state. Senators have the ability to confirm or reject executive branch nominees, ratify or reject treaties and try impeached officials. Democrats have a razor-thin majority in the chamber because there is a Democratic vice president. The candidates below are running to fill the seat soon to be vacated by Republican Pat Toomey. Democrat Bob Casey Jr., who holds Pennsylvania’s second Senate seat, is not up for election this year. Around the country, 14 Democrat-held seats and 21 Republican-held seats are in contention.
Pertinent issues: All issues of national interest.
Candidates
John Fetterman (D) is the current lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, having served alongside Gov. Tom Wolf (D) since 2019. He was previously the mayor of Braddock and a candidate in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary in 2016.
Mehmet Öz (R) is a first-time candidate and celebrity cardiothoracic surgeon best known as the host of “The Dr. Oz Show.”
United States House of Representatives (District 7)
Term: Two years
Office description: The House is the lower chamber of the United States Congress. Representatives have the power to initiate revenue bills and impeach federal officials. Pennsylvania’s House delegation currently consists of 18 members and is split evenly between the parties. Because of the most recent census, however, it will decrease to 17. Overall, House Democrats currently have a narrow 220-212 edge over Republicans, with one Republican vacancy and two Democratic vacancies. PA-7, the district which encompasses Easton, is currently in Democratic hands. Every member of the House is up for election.
Pertinent issues: All issues of national interest.
Candidates
Susan Wild (D) (Incumbent) has represented the 7th District for two terms, serving on the House Foreign Affairs, Ethics, Education and Labor committees. She is an attorney who served as the solicitor of Allentown from 2015 to 2017.
Lisa Scheller (R) is a former Lehigh County Commissioner and was the Republican nominee for PA-7 in 2020, losing by four points to Wild. She is the current chairwoman and president of Silberline Manufacturing Co. – a paint ingredient manufacturer founded by her grandparents – and the founder and benefactor of Hope & Coffee, a nonprofit Tamaqua-based coffee shop that helps individuals recover from drug addiction.
Pennsylvania Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Term: Four years
Office description: The governor is the top office in the Commonwealth, giving the final signature to all bills passed by the General Assembly. Additionally, the governor is the commander and chief of the Pennsylvania National Guard and has the power to fill judicial vacancies and grant pardons. The lieutenant governor is the president of the State Senate and chairs the Board of Pardons and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council. The current governor, Democrat Tom Wolf, is term-limited, and his lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, is running for U.S. Senate.
Pertinent issues: Abortion, election security, primary school education, transgender rights, taxes and all other issues of statewide interest.
Candidates
Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis (D) are the two-term Pennsylvania attorney general and the representative for the 35th State House district, respectively. Shapiro, from Montgomery County, is a former state representative himself and a former member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Davis has served in the General Assembly since 2018.
Doug Mastriano and Carrie DelRosso (R) represent the 33rd Senate District and the 33rd House District, respectively. Mastriano, an Army veteran, has held his current post since 2019 while DelRosso, a small business owner and former town councilwoman, has served in the State House since 2021.
Senator in the General Assembly (District 18)
Term: Four years
Office description: The State Senate is the upper chamber of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It produces legislation for approval by the State House and governor, serves as a legislative check to the State House, oversees the Commonwealth’s budget and monitors the operation of state government departments. Senators also work to resolve constituent disputes and other local problems. They have the ability to confirm or reject gubernatorial nominees and to try impeached officials. The Republican caucus currently boasts a 29-21 majority. A Democrat currently serves SD-18, which covers Easton. Half of all Senate districts are up for election, 14 of which are held by Republicans and an affiliated Independent, compared to 11 being held by Democrats.
Pertinent issues: Statewide issues such as taxes and voting laws.
Candidates
Lisa Boscola (D) (Incumbent) has served in the General Assembly for 27 years, first as a two-term state representative followed by five terms in the State Senate. Boscola sits on the following committees: Community, Economic & Recreational Development; Banking & Insurance; Environmental Resources & Energy; and Urban Affairs & Housing Committees. She is also the minority chair of the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure.
John Merhottein (R) is a Marine veteran and the current president of the Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners. He has served on the Board since 2018 and is its only Republican. Merhottein coaches basketball and baseball and is a former computer programmer and electronic data interchange specialist.
Representative in the General Assembly (District 136)
Robert L. Freeman (Incumbent), a 10-term Democrat from Easton, is running unopposed.
