The Allentown 2025 mayor’s race is already shaping up to be competitive, as at least two candidates say they plan to challenge Mayor Matt Tuerk, who is running for reelection.
Tuerk will formally announce his campaign Thursday evening. Two members of City Council have announced that they will challenge him in the Democratic primary.
Allentown, a majority Democratic city, has not had a Republican mayor since 2002, so the race is likely to be decided during the primary in May.
Tuerk was first elected as Allentown’s mayor in 2021 and sworn in in 2022. Before taking the helm of the city he worked in regional development — he was assistant director of the Allentown Economic Development Corp. between 2008 and 2013 and served in several roles with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., including vice president of economic development and marketing, 2013-20.
He resigned from that organization to run for mayor.
As mayor, Tuerk has overseen the city’s $20 million award from the federal government to address unemployment gaps, made investments in city park improvements and began the process of a $40 million renovation to the city’s police headquarters.