Allentown City Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach has received a series of high-profile endorsements in her bid for the Democratic nomination to the 22nd District in the state House.
Among the endorsements Gerlach received Friday came from former 22nd District state Rep. Josh Siegel, who resigned from the seat last year when he was elected Lehigh County executive.
“What Ce-Ce understands is that the way through this moment is not to keep our heads down, to stay out of the headlines, and hide from the fight,” Siegel said. “That’s what’s wrong with the Democratic Party. Nobody believes we will truly fight with the courage of our convictions. Nobody believes we’ll actually deliver for them. And when I was on City Council, Ce-Ce and I were allies, making sure that we showed up for the working people of this city. That’s the kind of courage that we need in the state legislature, and we need in Harrisburg.”
Democrat Ana Tiburcio was elected to serve out the remainder of Siegel’s term through December, in a special election Tuesday. Tiburcio, who was selected by local and state Democrats to appear on the ballot in the special election, is also expected to run in the May 19 primary for the full term.
Republican Robert Smith Jr., who lost to Tiburcio in the special election, is expected to run unopposed in the May primary for his party’s nomination.
In addition to Siegel, the Pennsylvania Working Families Party, Make the Road Action Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley DSA and Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons also endorsed Gerlach.
“I am incredibly thankful to these organizations and officials for their endorsements,” Gerlach said. “We’re sick and tired of status-quo politics, because status-quo politics aren’t working. We need people who are willing to go to Harrisburg and fight for working people. I’m not one to back down from a fight, and that’s what I’m going to do, side-by-side with all of you.”