2025 Allentown mayoral election
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| Elections in Pennsylvania |
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| Government |
The 2025 Allentown mayoral election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent mayor, Matthew Tuerk, is running for a second term as mayor.[1] The Democrat and Republican primary elections were held on May 20, 2025.[2][3]
Background
Matthew Tuerk, the eventual winner, faced three challengers in the 2021 Democratic primary; council members Ce-Ce Gerlach and Julio Guridy and incumbent Mayor Ray O’Connell.[4] Tuerk would win the highly competitive primary by just 121 votes barely beating O’Connell.[4] He would go on to win the mayoral election, by 64.13% in 2021, against Timothy Ramos. Tuerk announced his re-election campaign, in November 2024.[5] Tuerk is the first Hispanic mayor of Allentown, a city with a Hispanic population over 125,000.[4]
Candidates
Democratic primary
Declared
- Matthew Tuerk, incumbent mayor
- Ed Zucal, city councilman[6]
Withdrew
Republican primary
Withdrew
Declined
Campaign
Democratic primary
Tuerk has touted FBI statistics that showed a drop in crime in Allentown during his first term.[4] He also announced a plan to improve traffic signals, pedestrian walkways and roadways near schools with an aim of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2030.[4] Tuerk also promised to continue to grow tourism in the city, and improve the city's A2 bond rating.[4]
Tuerk is seeing a concerted primary challenge by city councilmen Ed Zucal a retired Allentown police sergeant elected as a Democrat in 2017.[4] Zucal has been highly critical of Tuerk’s tenure at the city’s helm claiming that the quality of life has significantly dropped since he took over as mayor.[4] Zucal also challenged the FBI statistics of not accurately portraying the continuing issue of crime, as well as opposing Tuerk's fiscal management.[4] Another Democratic city coucilwoman, Cynthia Mota, also briefly sought the nomination, running a campaign centered on "inclusion and economic opportunities" but would drop out in March to focus on re-election to the city council.[7]
The NAACP raised allegations that Tuerk has fostered city employees that have used racial slurs, mocking of sexual preferences and identities, verbal attacks and denials of promotions.[4] Zucal has pressed this issue, initiating a vote of no confidence against Tuerk that passed the city council 4-3.[4] In April 2024 the city council approved a $300,000 outside investigation of the allegations and on June 26, council voted 6-1 in favor of allocating $20,000 to sue Tuerk and city finance director Bina Patel due to Tuerk going over the city council's head and hiring their own external investigation.[4] However, in December the council voted 4-3 to suspend the lawsuit.[4]
Republican primary
Solomon Tembo, an Independent candidate in 2021, had filed to run as a Republican, however, provided a Salisbury Township address during his petition, and local Allentowner Danielle Scott challenged his eligibility to run for mayor due to not being a resident, as well as alleging 110 of his 140 signatures he'd collected weren't valid.[9] A hearing had been scheduled with the Lehigh County Board of Elections, however, Tembo instead withdrew his nomination.[9]
Tim Ramos, the Republican nominee in 2019 and 2021, announced he was considering running again due to people calling him and voicing support for a third run.[6] However, he would ultimately not file a petition meaning there is no Republican candidate this election cycle.[6][9]
The primary would ultimately be decided by write-in votes.[3] Ed Zucal, Tuerk's challenger in the Democratic primary, would launch a write in campaign that would see him win 498 write-in votes, and thus the Republican nomination.[10][11][12]
Primary results
Incumbent Allentown mayor Matthew Tuerk would win the Democratic primary after defeating councilman Ed Zucal with over 80 % of the vote.[13] However, Zucal will again face Tuerk in the November general election after receiving the most votes, all write-in, in the Republican primary.[3] He would receive only 115 votes in the Republican primary, needing 100 to clinch the Republican nomination.[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Tuerk (incumbent) | 4,945 | 80.33 | |
| Democratic | Ed Zucal | 1,191 | 19.35 | |
| Write-in | 20 | 0.32 | ||
| Total votes | 6,156 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ed Zucal (write-in) | 499 | 66.80 | |
| Write-in | 122 | 16.33 | ||
| Republican | Matthew Tuerk (write-in) | 115 | 15.39 | |
| Republican | Solomon Tembo (write-in) | 11 | 1.47 | |
| Total votes | 747 | 100.00 | ||
References
- ^ "Allentown mayor touts 'tremendous progress' as he launches re-election bid". LehighValleyNews.com. November 15, 2024.
- ^ Deegan, Jim (March 28, 2025). "Democrats are only ones on ballot for Allentown mayor in primary election". Lehigh Valley News. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Addy, Jason (May 23, 2025). "'I'm still alive': Ed Zucal claims victory in GOP primary for Allentown mayor. What does future hold?". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Allentown mayoral race officially off the ground". The Express-Times. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Allentown mayor to formally launch re-election campaign next month". LehighValleyNews.com. October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Farris, Jaccii (November 12, 2024). "2 city council members say they'll challenge Allentown mayor for city's top job". WFMZ.com.
- ^ a b "Allentown councilwoman drops bid for mayor's office, will seek re-election". LehighValleyNews.com. March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- ^ Shortell, Tom. "Lehigh County's 2025 local elections begin to take shape". Lehigh Valley News. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Democrats are only ones on ballot for Allentown mayor in primary election". LehighValleyNews.com. March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ Weber, Lindsay. "Ed Zucal poised to take GOP nomination for Allentown mayor after write-in push, setting up rematch with Matt Tuerk". The Morning Call. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ "City Councilman Ed Zucal receives enough write-in votes for GOP mayoral nomination". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Addy, Jason. "'I'm still alive': Ed Zucal claims victory in GOP primary for Allentown mayor. What does future hold?". Lehigh Valley News. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Addy, Jason (May 20, 2025). "'A very clear message': Tuerk declares victory in Allentown mayoral primary". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Lehigh County Unofficial Results - First Certification" (PDF). Lehigh County Elections and Voter Registration. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ "Lehigh County Unofficial Results - First Certification" (PDF). Lehigh County Elections and Voter Registration. p. 71. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.