ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Ana Tiburcio appears to be heading to the state House of Representatives.
Unofficial election results from Lehigh County showed the Democrat overtake her opponent, Republican Robert E. Smith Jr., in the special election that determines who represents parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township in the state House.
As of Tuesday night, Tiburcio took a healthy lead with 1,474 of votes, or 67.28% of the total, while Smith received 717 votes, or 32.72%.
The House seat was left vacant when incumbent Josh Siegel resigned to take on his new role Lehigh County executive.
Both candidates in the race have backgrounds in public service and said affordability is a key issue.
“I’ve been living in District 22 and my issues are affordability, fair education and affordable housing. I’m here to fight for our families and to be the voice,” Tiburcio said leading up to the election.
She is a three-year Allentown school board member.
Smith is a former school board member and former member of Allentown City Council.
“I’m not a career politician,” Smith said previously. “I’m a health care professional and a public servant who knows how to work with both sides and to get results.”
Only residents of the district — which covers Center City, East Allentown and a portion of Salisbury Township —were permitted to vote in Tuesday’s special election in Lehigh County.
Elsewhere in the state, Democrat Jennifer Mazzocco won a special election in the 42nd Legislative District, beating out Republican Joseph Leckenby. That seat, in Allegheny County, was left vacant after Democratic Rep. Dan Miller resigned following his election to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
With Tiburcio and Mazzocco’s wins, Democrats maintain their slim majority in the state House.