Who is on the ballot this November?

The Brown and White compiled a list of all the candidates running for office as they would appear on a ballot for a voter registered in South Bethlehem. Pennsylvania voters are able to vote in-person on Nov. 3 or vote by mail without an excuse. An application for a mail-in ballot must be received by Oct. 27. 

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Four-Year Term

Joseph R. Biden is the Democratic Party’s candidate for president. The former vice president of the United States under former President Barack Obama, Biden served as a senator from Delaware for 36 years. Biden is focused on rebuilding the middle class and ensuring an economic recovery occurs after defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden has chosen California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Donald J. Trump is the Republican Party’s nominee for president. Trump has served as president since January 2017 after defeating Hilary Clinton in the 2016 election. Prior to serving as president, Trump was a businessman and TV personality. Trump’s agenda emphasizes his “America First” platform. Current Vice President Mike Pence is serving as Trump’s running mate again.

Jo Jorgensen is the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president. Jorgensen founded her own business consulting company in 2002, where she still works today. Jorgensen is a lifelong member of the Libertarian Party and was the party’s vice-presidential nominee in 1996. Jorgensen wants to address perpetual failures in Washington, including national debt, health care costs and incarceration rates. Jeremy “Spike” Cohen is her running mate.    

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Two-Year Term

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild is the Democratic Party’s candidate for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. Wild has been the Lehigh Valley’s congresswoman since 2018, when she filled the seat left vacant by former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent. She then won her first outright election later in 2018. Wild was a lawyer before entering politics and is the former solicitor of Allentown. Wild’s re-election platform is focused on stimulating the economy through building a business consensus and guaranteeing access to health care. 

Lisa Scheller is the Republican Party’s candidate for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. Scheller is the president and chairperson of Silberline Manufacturing Co., an aluminum manufacturing company in the Lehigh Valley. Scheller is primarily focused on the economy and the workforce, promising to protect social security and medicare. Additionally, Scheller seeks to reform the nation’s budget and opposes the proposed Green New Deal. She was endorsed by Trump in her primary election earlier this year.

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 135TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Two-Year Term

Steve Samuelson is the Democratic Party’s candidate for the General Assembly in the 135th legislative district, which covers most of Bethlehem. Samuelson is currently in his 10th term as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Senior citizens have always been a priority for Samuelson, and he aims to focus on taxes and rent rebates in his bid for re-election. He is also outspoken against gerrymandering. Samuelson is the chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee.

Scott J. Hough is the Republican Party’s candidate for the General Assembly in the 135th legislative district. Hough has spent much of his professional career as a venue security director, and he currently works for a company in New York City. Hough’s agenda highlights tax relief, helping small businesses and families and combating the opioid epidemic. Hough is the first Republican challenger in the district since 2012.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Four-Year Term

Josh Shapiro is the Demoratic Party’s candidate for attorney general in Pennsylvania. Shapiro has served as Pennsylvania’s attorney general since 2017. Prior to his current position, Shapiro represented the 153rd district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Shapiro is focused on protecting civil rights and reproductive rights and increasing criminal justice reform. 

Heather Heidelbaugh is the Republican Party’s candidate for attorney general. Heidelbaugh is a partner at Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl LLC. She is a trial lawyer in their litigation practice group, with more than 35 years of courtroom experience. Heidelbaugh seeks to combat the opioid epidemic, protect the elected legislature, protect consumers from online scammers and end corruption in government. 

Daniel Wassmer is the Libertarian Party’s candidate for attorney general. Professionally, Wassmer has worked as a lawyer, professor and business owner. Wassmer currently runs his own law firm. Wassmer is an advocate for the Second Amendment and, if elected, will focus on gun safety. 

Richard L. Weiss is the Green Party’s candidate for attorney general. Weiss has worked as an attorney for the federal government in Washington, D.C., and he has helped finance development projects abroad. Beyond the Green Party’s primary platform of environmentalism, Weiss wants to reform the criminal justice system and police professionalism and review boards.

AUDITOR GENERAL

Four-Year Term

Nina Ahmad is the Democratic Party’s candidate for auditor general. Before running for auditor general, Ahmad was the Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement in Philadelphia. She has also worked as a molecular biologist and entrepreneur. Adhmad believes health care is a primary issue facing Pennsylvania residents, and she is focused on health care reform, specifically cost and technology. 

Timothy DeFoor is the Republican Party’s candidate for auditor general. DeFoor has worked in law enforcement and auditing for more than 25 years, most recently serving as the Dauphin Country Controller. DeFoor has tried to prevent fraud and abuse. If elected, he aims to cut unnecessary government spending in order to bolster the economy. 

Jennifer Moore is the Libertarian Party’s candidate for auditor general. Moore found a career in finance before being elected as an auditor in Upper Providence Township in Montgomery County. Moore supports Libertarian ideals of equal rights, the use of necessary force and the Libertarian mentality of “live and let live.”

Olivia Faison is the Green Party’s candidate for auditor general. Faison is currently the chair of the Health Center #4 Advisory Committee and secretary on the board of directors for the City of Philadelphia Health Centers. Faison seeks to fight pollution from dirty energy, water contamination and lead. 

STATE TREASURER

Four-Year Term

Joe Torsella is the Democratic Party’s candidate for state treasurer. Torsella is the current state treasurer for Pennsylvania. Prior to this position, Torsella was the U.S. Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform. If re-elected, Torsella wants to institute the Torsella Plan, a comprehensive agenda to create a college savings account for every child born in Pennsylvania. 

Stacy L. Garrity is the Republican Party’s candidate for state treasurer. Garrity is a retired Army Reserve Colonel. Garrity was deployed three times, was awarded the Bronze Star twice and received the Legion of Merit. Her three tours in Iraq spanned over 17 years. Garrity is focused on tax reform and affordable education.

Joe Soloski is the Libertarian Party’s candidate for state treasurer. Soloski has been a public accountant since 1979 and has managed his own accounting firm for 27 years. Soloski has also worked as a comptroller for publication and construction companies. His running platform focuses primarily on cutting legislator benefits and state spending, reducing the corporate net income tax and expanding the hemp industry.

Timothy Runkle is the Green Party’s candidate for state treasurer. Runkle is an environmental consultant, primarily dealing with risk and liability. Runkle has been involved with the Green Party since 2005. Runkle wants to uphold the Green Party’s ideals by fixing Pennsylvania’s environmental problems through financial means.