PA House Primary Preview: Lehigh Valley
In the fourth of our series, we take a look at the contested primaries in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.
April 5, 2024
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In the fourth of our series, we take a look at the contested primaries in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.
The countdown is underway to the 2024 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Even though the presidential candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties have been decided, there are still plenty of important primary races taking place around the Commonwealth.
In the fourth in our series, PoliticsPA takes a look at three races in the Lehigh Valley in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.
131st State House District
Meriam Sabih (D) vs. Jay Santos (D)
Sabih, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, is a first-time candidate who has been an active community organizer and precinct committee person. She supports the protection of women’s reproductive rights, preserving farmland, and protecting the rights of all individuals to a clean and sustainable living environment. Sabih also believes that access to quality education is essential and is committed to working to ensure that every child has the support and resources they need to succeed. She is endorsed by the Montgomery County Democratic Committee.
Santos, whose parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic, is a first-time candidate for the State House. He says he is committed to maintaining a balanced budget and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Santos believes that “no politician should tell women what to do regarding their health” and is committed to advocating for increased funding and resources for mental health services.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Milford, Salisbury (PART, Ward 03 [PART, Division 01]), Upper Milford and Upper Saucon and the BOROUGH of Coopersburg; Part of MONTGOMERY County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Marlborough, Salford and Upper Hanover and the BOROUGHS of East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIP of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 01, 02, 04, 07 and 08).
136th State House District
Robert Freeman (D) vs. Taiba Sultana (D)
Freeman faces his first primary challenge since he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. He hasn’t had a general election opponent since 2010 when he defeated Republican Ron Shegda with 64% of the vote. Freeman says that over his tenure, he has “gained expertise and recognition as a leader in environmental protection, reducing the negative effects of suburban sprawl, preserving farmland and focusing on the revitalization of older urban areas.” He did vote against Act 77 which allowed mail-in voting.
Sultana, an Easton City Councilwoman, says she is running to fight for her community’s chance to build a brighter future. She was born in Pakistan and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teen. Sultana is focused on investing in affordable housing and community policing; ensuring a fair wage for a hard day’s work; creating a just economic system and tackling discrimination against Black and Brown communities. She is hoping to become the first woman and first person of color elected in the 136th District.
District Composition. Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the CITY of Easton and the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 03, 05 and 06), Palmer (PART, Districts Eastern and Western [PART, Division 01]) and Williams and the BOROUGHS of Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, West Easton and Wilson.
183rd State House District
Zachary Mako (R) vs. Zachari Halkias (R)
Mako, a four-term incumbent, faces his first primary challenge since 2018 when he defeated Cynthia Miller, a Lehigh Township supervisor, with nearly 73% of the vote. He is focused on eliminating and reducing property taxes, expanding education choice options such as charter schools and education scholarships, supporting voter ID and reforming no-excuse mail balloting, as well as the Second Amendment rights for Pennsylvanians.
Halkias was elected to the Slatington Council in 2021 at the age of 19 as the top vote getter among the three uncontested candidates for council. Calling himself “A True Conservative for Pennsylvania,” his 13-point plan includes unleashing PA’s energy sector, creating an issue-free election process that can be trusted by all, reforming PennDOT, supporting pregnancy resource centers and slashing unnecessary taxes. Halkias says he is Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, Pro-School Choice, and Pro-Parental Rights.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lowhill and North Whitehall and the BOROUGH of Slatington and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (PART, Districts Beersville and Klecknersville) and the BOROUGHS of Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport.
The countdown is underway to the 2024 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Even though the presidential candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties have been decided, there are still plenty of important primary races taking place around the Commonwealth.
In the fourth in our series, PoliticsPA takes a look at three races in the Lehigh Valley in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.
131st State House District
Meriam Sabih (D) vs. Jay Santos (D)
Sabih, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, is a first-time candidate who has been an active community organizer and precinct committee person. She supports the protection of women’s reproductive rights, preserving farmland, and protecting the rights of all individuals to a clean and sustainable living environment. Sabih also believes that access to quality education is essential and is committed to working to ensure that every child has the support and resources they need to succeed. She is endorsed by the Montgomery County Democratic Committee.
Santos, whose parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic, is a first-time candidate for the State House. He says he is committed to maintaining a balanced budget and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Santos believes that “no politician should tell women what to do regarding their health” and is committed to advocating for increased funding and resources for mental health services.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Milford, Salisbury (PART, Ward 03 [PART, Division 01]), Upper Milford and Upper Saucon and the BOROUGH of Coopersburg; Part of MONTGOMERY County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Marlborough, Salford and Upper Hanover and the BOROUGHS of East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIP of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 01, 02, 04, 07 and 08).
136th State House District
Robert Freeman (D) vs. Taiba Sultana (D)
Freeman faces his first primary challenge since he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. He hasn’t had a general election opponent since 2010 when he defeated Republican Ron Shegda with 64% of the vote. Freeman says that over his tenure, he has “gained expertise and recognition as a leader in environmental protection, reducing the negative effects of suburban sprawl, preserving farmland and focusing on the revitalization of older urban areas.” He did vote against Act 77 which allowed mail-in voting.
Sultana, an Easton City Councilwoman, says she is running to fight for her community’s chance to build a brighter future. She was born in Pakistan and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teen. Sultana is focused on investing in affordable housing and community policing; ensuring a fair wage for a hard day’s work; creating a just economic system and tackling discrimination against Black and Brown communities. She is hoping to become the first woman and first person of color elected in the 136th District.
District Composition. Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the CITY of Easton and the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 03, 05 and 06), Palmer (PART, Districts Eastern and Western [PART, Division 01]) and Williams and the BOROUGHS of Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, West Easton and Wilson.
183rd State House District
Zachary Mako (R) vs. Zachari Halkias (R)
Mako, a four-term incumbent, faces his first primary challenge since 2018 when he defeated Cynthia Miller, a Lehigh Township supervisor, with nearly 73% of the vote. He is focused on eliminating and reducing property taxes, expanding education choice options such as charter schools and education scholarships, supporting voter ID and reforming no-excuse mail balloting, as well as the Second Amendment rights for Pennsylvanians.
Halkias was elected to the Slatington Council in 2021 at the age of 19 as the top vote getter among the three uncontested candidates for council. Calling himself “A True Conservative for Pennsylvania,” his 13-point plan includes unleashing PA’s energy sector, creating an issue-free election process that can be trusted by all, reforming PennDOT, supporting pregnancy resource centers and slashing unnecessary taxes. Halkias says he is Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, Pro-School Choice, and Pro-Parental Rights.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lowhill and North Whitehall and the BOROUGH of Slatington and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (PART, Districts Beersville and Klecknersville) and the BOROUGHS of Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport.
The countdown is underway to the 2024 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Even though the presidential candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties have been decided, there are still plenty of important primary races taking place around the Commonwealth.
In the fourth in our series, PoliticsPA takes a look at three races in the Lehigh Valley in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.
131st State House District
Meriam Sabih (D) vs. Jay Santos (D)
Sabih, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, is a first-time candidate who has been an active community organizer and precinct committee person. She supports the protection of women’s reproductive rights, preserving farmland, and protecting the rights of all individuals to a clean and sustainable living environment. Sabih also believes that access to quality education is essential and is committed to working to ensure that every child has the support and resources they need to succeed. She is endorsed by the Montgomery County Democratic Committee.
Santos, whose parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic, is a first-time candidate for the State House. He says he is committed to maintaining a balanced budget and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Santos believes that “no politician should tell women what to do regarding their health” and is committed to advocating for increased funding and resources for mental health services.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Milford, Salisbury (PART, Ward 03 [PART, Division 01]), Upper Milford and Upper Saucon and the BOROUGH of Coopersburg; Part of MONTGOMERY County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Marlborough, Salford and Upper Hanover and the BOROUGHS of East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIP of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 01, 02, 04, 07 and 08).
136th State House District
Robert Freeman (D) vs. Taiba Sultana (D)
Freeman faces his first primary challenge since he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. He hasn’t had a general election opponent since 2010 when he defeated Republican Ron Shegda with 64% of the vote. Freeman says that over his tenure, he has “gained expertise and recognition as a leader in environmental protection, reducing the negative effects of suburban sprawl, preserving farmland and focusing on the revitalization of older urban areas.” He did vote against Act 77 which allowed mail-in voting.
Sultana, an Easton City Councilwoman, says she is running to fight for her community’s chance to build a brighter future. She was born in Pakistan and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teen. Sultana is focused on investing in affordable housing and community policing; ensuring a fair wage for a hard day’s work; creating a just economic system and tackling discrimination against Black and Brown communities. She is hoping to become the first woman and first person of color elected in the 136th District.
District Composition. Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the CITY of Easton and the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 03, 05 and 06), Palmer (PART, Districts Eastern and Western [PART, Division 01]) and Williams and the BOROUGHS of Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, West Easton and Wilson.
183rd State House District
Zachary Mako (R) vs. Zachari Halkias (R)
Mako, a four-term incumbent, faces his first primary challenge since 2018 when he defeated Cynthia Miller, a Lehigh Township supervisor, with nearly 73% of the vote. He is focused on eliminating and reducing property taxes, expanding education choice options such as charter schools and education scholarships, supporting voter ID and reforming no-excuse mail balloting, as well as the Second Amendment rights for Pennsylvanians.
Halkias was elected to the Slatington Council in 2021 at the age of 19 as the top vote getter among the three uncontested candidates for council. Calling himself “A True Conservative for Pennsylvania,” his 13-point plan includes unleashing PA’s energy sector, creating an issue-free election process that can be trusted by all, reforming PennDOT, supporting pregnancy resource centers and slashing unnecessary taxes. Halkias says he is Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, Pro-School Choice, and Pro-Parental Rights.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lowhill and North Whitehall and the BOROUGH of Slatington and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (PART, Districts Beersville and Klecknersville) and the BOROUGHS of Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport.
The countdown is underway to the 2024 Pennsylvania presidential primary.
Even though the presidential candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties have been decided, there are still plenty of important primary races taking place around the Commonwealth.
In the fourth in our series, PoliticsPA takes a look at three races in the Lehigh Valley in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.
131st State House District
Meriam Sabih (D) vs. Jay Santos (D)
Sabih, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, is a first-time candidate who has been an active community organizer and precinct committee person. She supports the protection of women’s reproductive rights, preserving farmland, and protecting the rights of all individuals to a clean and sustainable living environment. Sabih also believes that access to quality education is essential and is committed to working to ensure that every child has the support and resources they need to succeed. She is endorsed by the Montgomery County Democratic Committee.
Santos, whose parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic, is a first-time candidate for the State House. He says he is committed to maintaining a balanced budget and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Santos believes that “no politician should tell women what to do regarding their health” and is committed to advocating for increased funding and resources for mental health services.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Milford, Salisbury (PART, Ward 03 [PART, Division 01]), Upper Milford and Upper Saucon and the BOROUGH of Coopersburg; Part of MONTGOMERY County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Marlborough, Salford and Upper Hanover and the BOROUGHS of East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIP of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 01, 02, 04, 07 and 08).
136th State House District
Robert Freeman (D) vs. Taiba Sultana (D)
Freeman faces his first primary challenge since he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. He hasn’t had a general election opponent since 2010 when he defeated Republican Ron Shegda with 64% of the vote. Freeman says that over his tenure, he has “gained expertise and recognition as a leader in environmental protection, reducing the negative effects of suburban sprawl, preserving farmland and focusing on the revitalization of older urban areas.” He did vote against Act 77 which allowed mail-in voting.
Sultana, an Easton City Councilwoman, says she is running to fight for her community’s chance to build a brighter future. She was born in Pakistan and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was a teen. Sultana is focused on investing in affordable housing and community policing; ensuring a fair wage for a hard day’s work; creating a just economic system and tackling discrimination against Black and Brown communities. She is hoping to become the first woman and first person of color elected in the 136th District.
District Composition. Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the CITY of Easton and the TOWNSHIPS of Lower Saucon (PART, Districts 03, 05 and 06), Palmer (PART, Districts Eastern and Western [PART, Division 01]) and Williams and the BOROUGHS of Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, West Easton and Wilson.
183rd State House District
Zachary Mako (R) vs. Zachari Halkias (R)
Mako, a four-term incumbent, faces his first primary challenge since 2018 when he defeated Cynthia Miller, a Lehigh Township supervisor, with nearly 73% of the vote. He is focused on eliminating and reducing property taxes, expanding education choice options such as charter schools and education scholarships, supporting voter ID and reforming no-excuse mail balloting, as well as the Second Amendment rights for Pennsylvanians.
Halkias was elected to the Slatington Council in 2021 at the age of 19 as the top vote getter among the three uncontested candidates for council. Calling himself “A True Conservative for Pennsylvania,” his 13-point plan includes unleashing PA’s energy sector, creating an issue-free election process that can be trusted by all, reforming PennDOT, supporting pregnancy resource centers and slashing unnecessary taxes. Halkias says he is Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, Pro-School Choice, and Pro-Parental Rights.
District Composition. Part of LEHIGH County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Lowhill and North Whitehall and the BOROUGH of Slatington and Part of NORTHAMPTON County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (PART, Districts Beersville and Klecknersville) and the BOROUGHS of Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport.
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