Seven Democrats running for Allentown City Council’s four open seats

Council will have at least one new member in 2026

Jayne Orenstein  May 05, 2025

Seven Democratic candidates are running in the May 20 primary for four seats on Allentown City Council. There are no Republican candidates, meaning that the council will likely remain entirely Democratic in 2026.

Three incumbents are seeking reelection – council President Daryl L. Hendricks, Vice President Cynthia Mota and Natalie Santos, who in 2021 became the youngest person ever elected to the position. A fourth incumbent, Ed Zucal, is running for mayor and is not seeking reelection, which means council will have at least one new member next year.

Also running are Jeremy Binder, Cristian Pungo, Ben Stemrich and Patrick Palmer. Luis Acevedo – removed from the ballot after losing a petition challenge – is running a write-in campaign. Council members serve four-year terms. Read more here