2026 Lehigh Valley Primary Election Guide
- Lehigh Valley voters are heading toward Pennsylvania’s May 19 primary, with a four-way Democratic race in the 7th Congressional District topping local ballots. - Pennsylvania’s deadline to register is May 4, and mail-ballot applications are due May 12; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 19. - Northampton County says some voters have new districts and polling places after redistricting. (pa.gov) (norcopa.gov)
Lehigh Valley voters will choose party nominees on May 19 in races that include Congress and the Pennsylvania House. (pa.gov) (mcall.com) The marquee local contest is the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, where Bob Brooks, Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine are running. Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie is unopposed in his primary. (ballotpedia.org) (usatoday.com) The primary is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Pennsylvania says polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., voter registration closes May 4, and mail-in or absentee ballot applications are due May 12. (pa.gov) Completed civilian mail ballots must reach county election offices by 8 p.m. on May 19, not just be postmarked by then. The state’s election calendar lists March 10 as the filing deadline that set this year’s ballot. (pa.gov) (ballotpedia.org) Northampton County says some voters will see new polling district names or locations because it is implementing a court-approved redistricting plan before the primary. The county is urging residents to check their polling place before election day. (norcopa.gov) Lehigh County has posted official 2026 primary sample ballots and lists five drop-box locations for mail ballots, including a 24/7 box at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown. The other boxes are inside municipal buildings and follow business-hour schedules. (lehighcounty.org) State House races are also on local ballots. Ballotpedia lists Democratic incumbent Peter Schweyer seeking another term in District 134, Republican incumbent Zachary Mako running again in District 183, and Republican incumbent Joe Emrick seeking re-election in District 137. (ballotpedia.org 1) (ballotpedia.org 2) (ballotpedia.org 3) The stakes reach beyond the Lehigh Valley. Ballotpedia says the 7th District race could factor into control of the U.S. House, while Pennsylvania House control remains narrowly divided after the 2024 election. (ballotpedia.org 1) (ballotpedia.org 2) For voters, the immediate task is simpler: confirm your district, review your sample ballot and meet the May 4 and May 12 deadlines before polls open on May 19. (norcopa.gov) (lehighcounty.org) (pa.gov)
