A special election to replace state Rep. Josh Siegel, who won election in November to become the next Lehigh County executive, will be held Feb. 24.
Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton signed a writ of election to fill the vacancy for Seigel, who stepped down Wednesday. According to the House rules, the speaker must issue a writ within 10 days following a vacancy, McClinton’s press secretary said in a news release.
The winner of the election for the Lehigh County-based 22nd District will serve out the remainder of Siegel’s term, until Nov. 30.
Two Democrats have announced bids for the seat, which covers a large portion of Center City Allentown: Julian Guridy, a constituent services representative with state Sen. Nick Miller’s office and former Democratic delegate in the 2024 election, and Allentown City Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach.
Candidates for special elections are chosen by their respective parties. Both Guridy and Gerlach have said they plan to run in the 2026 Democratic primary for a full term.
The Lehigh County Democratic Party has opened an online application for prospective candidates, which is due Jan. 1. Members of the Democratic committee who live in the 22nd District, called “precinct committee members,” will meet Jan. 3 to conduct candidate interviews and select a nominee, according to Lori McFarland, chair of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee.
That meeting will not be open to the public, McFarland said.
Around 20 people are members of the Democratic Committee who represent the 22nd District, however, there are 28 precinct committee vacancies in the district. McFarland said it is a challenge to recruit people to be actively involved members of the committee.
“One of the requirements and responsibilities of being a PCP is getting to know your precinct, knock on your neighbors’ doors building a relationship with your neighborhood, let them know you’re the contact person, get information to them as they may require, help them with voting if necessary, introduce upcoming races and candidates,” McFarland said. “So that there is work involved in being a PCP not just jumping on board for one election.”
Following that Jan. 3, meeting, McFarland will forward the committee’s selection to the state Democratic Party, which will approve the candidate to be placed on the Feb. 24 ballot.
Gerlach has been critical of the nomination process, which is dictated by state law. In a post on social media, she has called for the party to fill committee vacancies and open the Jan. 3 meeting to residents of the 22nd District and the media.
McFarland said candidates will be given a list of 22nd District committee members, whom they are free to lobby and campaign to for votes.
It is unclear if the Lehigh County Republican Party is vetting any candidates to run in the special election. Chair Joe Vichot did not immediately respond to a voicemail requesting an interview.
The 22nd district serves parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township, and heavily Democratic.
Prospective candidates for the district will have another opportunity to run in the primary election May 19, for a full, two-year term beginning in 2027.
Siegel will be sworn in as Lehigh County executive Jan. 5.
McClinton also set Feb. 24 as the date for a special election to fill the seat of Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny, who also resigned Wednesday.
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.
