The local elections across the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday feature several competitive races alongside a number of uncontested contests for municipal government, school board seats, and judicial positions.

Polls are open in Pennsylvania from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For our audience in New Jersey — where a hotly contested gubernatorial race is on the ballot — polling hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit our sister website NJ.com for comprehensive election coverage in the Garden State.

Here is a look at the key contested races in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh and Northampton counties and New Jersey’s Warren County based off of stories primarily from media partner Armchair Lehigh Valley, along with other partners Spotlight PA, PennLive.com and our own reporting at lehighvalleylive.com:

Northampton County Executive

The race for Northampton County executive pits Republican Tom Giovanni, a county councilman and former information technology business owner, against Democrat Tara Zrinski, the current county controller and a former councilwoman. Giovanni seeks greater transparency and accountability, drawing on his business management experience. He is concerned about employee turnover, Gracedale’s reliance on agency nurses, and achieving goals without raising taxes. Zrinski, who would be the first woman in the role, focuses on leveraging her auditing knowledge to ensure financial transparency. She plans to support the new Gracedale administrator, uphold due process regarding ICE enforcement, preserve farmland, and address affordable housing.

MORE: Where the Northampton County executive candidates stand on 5 key issues

Lehigh County Executive

The race for Lehigh County executive features “polar platforms” between Democrat Josh Siegel, a state representative, and Republican Roger MacLean, a former Allentown police chief. This seat is open because the incumbent is term-limited. MacLean, who is running to ensure Siegel has a challenger, focuses on balancing growth with preserving the community’s character and values. He supports reviewing spending line by line, is not in favor of raising taxes, and wants to promote smart-growth policies while maintaining farmland preservation. Siegel, who is running on the idea that a new generation of leadership is needed, brings a blueprint called “One Lehigh.” Recognizing that federal funding cuts could negatively impact county services like Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehab, Siegel suggests practical measures such as exploring a 1% sales tax and implementing a PILOT program for large nonprofits, and he wants to float a $100 million bond to establish a housing production fund to combat the housing attainability crisis. He also wants to explore regionalizing police and firefighting services.

MORE: Polar platforms define Lehigh County executive race

Allentown Mayor

The Allentown mayoral race is a repeat of the primary election, with incumbent Democrat Matt Tuerk facing Councilman Ed Zucal, a Democrat who secured the Republican nomination through a write-in campaign. Tuerk, the city’s first Latino mayor, lists his top priorities as safety (citing reduced homicides), economic opportunity (like the launch of Allentown Works), and community partnerships. He recently proposed a budget for 2026 that includes a 3.96% tax increase, needed to maintain city services. Zucal, a retired police sergeant, has criticized Tuerk’s tenure, claiming quality-of-life issues are ignored and promising to keep taxes down by controlling city spending. Zucal also advocates for community policing programs and believes police morale is low.

MORE: Allentown mayoral race a repeat of primary election

Easton City Council

The Easton City Council election is contested only in District 2, covering most of the West Ward, where Republican Sharbel Koorie faces Democrat Julie Zando-Dennis. Koorie, a local business owner with 25 years in city government, stresses maintaining existing infrastructure to control taxes and addressing parking, affordable housing (excluding apartments), and walkability. Zando-Dennis, a lawyer who specializes in professional liability insurance, focuses on empowering the community, revitalizing the West Ward, and improving neighborhood infrastructure, noting her commitment to pursuing grant funding for projects like sidewalk repairs.

MORE: Easton City Council race up for grabs

Easton Area School Board

The Easton Area School District is holding elections for five regional seats, though only Region 3 features a contested race. In Region 3, incumbent Democrat Meg Sayago (a two-term board president and school librarian focused on academic excellence, student safety, and responsible budgeting) is challenged by fellow Democrat Edward Keegan (a former school board member and retired school superintendent prioritizing improved student achievement using existing data to maintain high property values) and Republican Shaun Jensen (a high school science teacher emphasizing academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, classroom safety and discipline, and parental rights). They are vying for two open seats.

MORE: 3 candidates vying for 2 open Easton Area School Board seats

Phillipsburg Town Council

All five Phillipsburg Town Council seats appear on the ballot simultaneously, after two Republican council members unexpectedly resigned earlier this year. Republicans Edward Saultz and Dustin Pierce were appointed to fill the vacancies in March. Running to complete the two unexpired two-year terms are Saultz alongside Republican Richard Backes and former Phillipsburg School Board official Joshua Wanisko, a Democrat. Seeking three four-year terms on council are Republicans Peter J. Marino, the second-term council president, and newcomer Timothy Zagra, in addition to Pierce. On the Democratic ticket, Councilmen Lee Clark and Keith Kennedy seek re-election alongside newcomer Bernie Fey.

MORE: Warren County 2025 election guide: Where to cast ballots in contentious P’burg race

Northampton County Council

Voters are filling five seats on the Northampton County Council, an election significant enough that it could flip the current 6-3 Democratic majority to a 5-4 Republican majority. A major issue across all candidates is the county nursing home, Gracedale, which faces financial issues and staffing shortages, with 80% of staff currently coming from temp agencies. The Republican slate includes incumbents John P. Goffredo and John Brown, alongside Sam Elias, Daniel Campo, and Juan E. Martinez. The Democratic slate includes incumbent Council President Lori Vargo Heffner, David Holland, Theresa Fadem, Jason Boulette, and Nadeem Qayyum.

MORE: Party control of Northampton County Council could flip

Northampton County Judicial Seat

The election for the ninth judge position on the county Court of Common Pleas, which will be vacated upon the retirement of Judge Anthony Beltrami, pits Republican James Fuller, who has served as both an assistant district attorney and an assistant county public defender, against Democrat Jeremy Clark, an attorney in private practice who has served as a special divorce master.

MORE: Northampton County judicial candidates make case for election

Lehigh County Judicial Seat

The election for a new Court of Common Pleas judicial seat pits Republican Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen, chief of prosecutions in the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, against Democrat Mark Stanziola, a lawyer specializing in family law. Both candidates have been rated “highly recommended” by the Lehigh County Bar Association.

MORE: Seasoned prosecutor, long-time lawyer square off in judicial election

Bethlehem City Council

Four seats are open on the Bethlehem City Council, with four Democrats and one Republican competing. Democrats hold all seven seats currently. The slate includes incumbents Rachel Leon and Hillary Kwiatek, and challengers Democrats Jo Daniels and Justin Amann, along with Republican Joseph Poplawski.

MORE: What to know about Bethlehem City Council candidates ahead of Nov. 4 election

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Retentions

Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are up for retention on Nov. 4, an election which involves voters deciding whether to grant them additional terms. Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht were all elected as Democrats in 2015, maintaining their party’s majority on the state’s high court since then. The outcome of the retention votes could potentially lead to contested, partisan elections in 2027 if any justice is not retained. The Pennsylvania Bar Association recommends that all three justices should be retained.

MORE: A complete guide to Pa. Supreme Court retention candidates

Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on source information published by lehighvalleylive.com. It was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff.

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