2025 Allentown municipal election

2025 Allentown City Council election
	November 5, 2025
4 seats up for election; 4 seats needed for a majority

A general election will be held in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on November 4, 2025, to elect various city-wide positions. Primary elections were held on May 20.

Mayoral

City Council

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominees

Jeremy Binder, small business owner^[1]
Cynthia Mota, incumbent councilor^[2] (previously ran for mayor)^[3]
Cristian Pungo, construction project manager^[4]
Natalie Santos, incumbent councilor^[5]

Eliminated in primary

Luis Acevedo, business manager and perennial candidate^[6] (disqualified, ran write-in campaign)^[7]
Daryl Hendricks, incumbent councilor^[8]
Patrick Palmer, candidate for mayor in 2021 and city council in 2023^[9]
Ben Stemrich, journalist and weatherman^[10]

Declined

Ed Zucal, incumbent councilor (ran for mayor)^[11]

Results

Democratic primary (vote for up to 4)^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cynthia Y Mota (incumbent)	3,363	16.70
	Democratic	Jeremy Binder	3,264	16.21
	Democratic	Natalie Santos (incumbent)	2,967	14.73
	Democratic	Cristian Pungo	2,618	13.00
	Democratic	Daryl L Hendricks (incumbent)	2,593	12.88
	Democratic	Patrick Palmer	2,483	12.33
	Democratic	Ben Stemrich	2,279	11.32
	Democratic	Luis Acevedo (write-in)	316	1.57
	Write-in		257	1.28
Total votes			20,140	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates who received enough write-in votes were eligible to be nominated by the Allentown Republican Party.

Results

Republican primary (vote for up to 4)^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Write-in		654	100.00
Total votes			654	100.00

School board of directors

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominees

Evette D'Amore, office manager (cross-filing)^[13]
Cereta Johnson, entrepreneur^[14]
Michael McDermott^[15]
Denzel Morris, software engineer^[14]

Eliminated in primary

Dianne Michels, professional counselor (cross-filing)^[14]
Robert Smith Jr., former director (2003–2019) (cross-filing)^[16]
David Zimmerman, retired research analyst (cross-filing)^[17]

Declined

LaTarsha Brown, incumbent director^[18]
Lisa Conover, incumbent director^[19]
Phoebe Harris, incumbent director^[20]
Jennifer Lynn Ortiz^[18]

Results

Democratic primary (vote for up to 4)^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Evette D'Amore	3,147	19.73
	Democratic	Cereta Johnson	2,398	15.03
	Democratic	Denzel Morris	2,169	13.60
	Democratic	Michael McDermott	2,114	13.25
	Democratic	David F Zimmerman	2,078	13.03
	Democratic	Dianne L Michels	2,240	14.03
	Democratic	Robert E Smith Jr	1,762	11.05
	Write-in		49	0.31
Total votes			15,957	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominees

Tom Houck
Dianne Michels, professional counselor (cross-filing)^[14]
Robert Smith Jr., former director (2003–2019) (cross-filing)^[16]
David Zimmerman, retired research analyst (cross-filing)^[17]

Eliminated in primary

Evette D'Amore, office manager (cross-filing)^[13]

Results

Republican primary (vote for up to 4)^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert E Smith Jr	1,111	25.71
	Republican	Tom Houck	965	22.34
	Republican	David F Zimmerman	939	21.73
	Republican	Dianne L Michels	745	17.24
	Republican	Evette D'Amore	506	11.72
	Write-in		54	1.25
Total votes			4,320	100.00

School board of directors (special)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Nick Nicholoff, incumbent director^[16]

Results

Democratic primary^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nick Nicholoff	4,847	99.36
	Write-in		31	0.64
Total votes			4,878	100.00

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert E Smith (write-in)	26	14.29
	Republican	Tom Houck (write-in)	15	8.24
	Republican	Evette D'Amore (write-in)	11	6.04
	Republican	David Zimmerman (write-in)	10	5.49
	Write-in		120	65.93
Total votes			182	100.00

References

^ Addy, Jason (17 December 2024). "'This is a 'We' campaign': Business owner launches campaign for Allentown City Council". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Addy, Jason (6 March 2025). "Allentown councilwoman drops bid for mayor's office, will seek re-election". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ "Allentown mayoral race officially off the ground". lehighvalleylive.com. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Weber, Lindsay (May 2025). "Allentown City Council candidates answer questions on key issues: Cristian Pungo". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ "Natalie Santos announces campaign for reelection to Allentown City Council". WFZM-TV. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Addy, Jason (17 February 2025). "Business manager launches 3rd bid for Allentown City Council". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Gehman, Danielle (19 March 2025). "Court removes Allentown City Council candidate from ballot due to late filing; will proceed with write-in campaign". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Weber, Lindsay. "Allentown City Council primary election results: In close race, Mota, Santos poised for re-election". The Daily Item. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Kise, Jacob (25 February 2025). "Man who has served on multiple boards, commissions in Allentown running for city council". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Addy, Jason (21 February 2025). "Journalist, TV weatherman joins race for Allentown City Council". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ "Primary 2025: Allentown Mayoral Race". PoliticsPA. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Summary Results Report Municipal Primary Election" (PDF). Lehigh County. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ ^a ^b Deornellas, Elizabeth (8 May 2025). "Allentown School Board candidates answer questions on key issues: Evette D'Amore". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Roberts, Jenny (30 April 2025). "Allentown School Board hopefuls share their experience, priorities at candidate forum". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ "Who's running in the Pa. primary in Allentown, Bethlehem, elsewhere?". lehighvalleylive.com. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Roberts, Jenny (16 January 2025). "Familiar faces plan runs for Allentown School Board with transparency at top of mind". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ ^a ^b Deornellas, Elizabeth (8 May 2025). "Allentown School Board candidates answer questions on key issues: David Zimmerman". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Primary election results for every Lehigh Valley school board race". lehighvalleylive.com. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Roberts, Jenny (10 March 2025). "Lisa Conover won't seek 3rd term on Allentown School Board". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
^ Roberts, Jenny (7 January 2025). "Phoebe Harris won't seek 3rd term on Allentown School Board". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[1] Addy, Jason (17 December 2024). "'This is a 'We' campaign': Business owner launches campaign for Allentown City Council". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[2] Addy, Jason (6 March 2025). "Allentown councilwoman drops bid for mayor's office, will seek re-election". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[3] "Allentown mayoral race officially off the ground". lehighvalleylive.com. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[4] Weber, Lindsay (May 2025). "Allentown City Council candidates answer questions on key issues: Cristian Pungo". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[5] "Natalie Santos announces campaign for reelection to Allentown City Council". WFZM-TV. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[6] Addy, Jason (17 February 2025). "Business manager launches 3rd bid for Allentown City Council". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[7] Gehman, Danielle (19 March 2025). "Court removes Allentown City Council candidate from ballot due to late filing; will proceed with write-in campaign". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[8] Weber, Lindsay. "Allentown City Council primary election results: In close race, Mota, Santos poised for re-election". The Daily Item. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[9] Kise, Jacob (25 February 2025). "Man who has served on multiple boards, commissions in Allentown running for city council". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[10] Addy, Jason (21 February 2025). "Journalist, TV weatherman joins race for Allentown City Council". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[11] "Primary 2025: Allentown Mayoral Race". PoliticsPA. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[Primary-12] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Summary Results Report Municipal Primary Election" (PDF). Lehigh County. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[Evette-13] Deornellas, Elizabeth (8 May 2025). "Allentown School Board candidates answer questions on key issues: Evette D'Amore". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[SchoolCand-14] Roberts, Jenny (30 April 2025). "Allentown School Board hopefuls share their experience, priorities at candidate forum". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[15] "Who's running in the Pa. primary in Allentown, Bethlehem, elsewhere?". lehighvalleylive.com. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[BobNick-16] Roberts, Jenny (16 January 2025). "Familiar faces plan runs for Allentown School Board with transparency at top of mind". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[DavidZ-17] Deornellas, Elizabeth (8 May 2025). "Allentown School Board candidates answer questions on key issues: David Zimmerman". The Morning Call. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[yay-18] "Primary election results for every Lehigh Valley school board race". lehighvalleylive.com. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[19] Roberts, Jenny (10 March 2025). "Lisa Conover won't seek 3rd term on Allentown School Board". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

[20] Roberts, Jenny (7 January 2025). "Phoebe Harris won't seek 3rd term on Allentown School Board". LehighValleyNews.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

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