Freeman easily defeats Sultana in 136th
Sultana says she's not ruling out running for the seat again
Incumbent Robert Freeman on Tuesday easily deflected a challenge by Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana, capturing 77.5% of the vote to win the Democratic nomination for the state’s 136th House District.
Freeman received 3,985 votes to Sultana’s 1,152, according to unofficial results posted by Northampton County.
“I am very humbled by the scale of my victory,” Freeman said on Tuesday night. “It was truly an amazing vote of confidence.”
Freeman said he believes voters continue to trust his work on issues, including efforts to raise the minimum wage, making housing more affordable, expanding health care, addressing climate change and protecting voting integrity.
“I think those are all pivotal issues,” he said. “We celebrate tonight, but tomorrow is a day to begin work on those issues that need to be addressed for our constituents.”
Sultana, in turn, congratulated Freeman on his victory. “He is the winner,” she said.
She blamed her loss on being up against the Democratic establishment, which, she said, includes Freeman, Easton Mayor Sal Panto, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and others.
“I tried. It’s not easy. I didn’t run against one person. It was a whole establishment,” she said.
Sultana said she’s not giving up and will probably run for Easton Council next year and state representative in the future.
“I would say we are building a movement. It’s going to be slow. It’s not going to happen overnight,” she said. “I will continue to be a voice for the people who are voiceless.”
Sultana was Freeman’s first primary challenger since he was first elected in 1982.
With no Republican on the ballot in the 136th, the results means that Freeman will head into another November election without a GOP challenger.
He last faced one in 2010 when he defeated Republican Ron Shegda with 64% of the vote. Independents and minor party candidates have until Aug. 1 to file nomination papers.
Freeman’s win comes as Sultana faced recurring publicity over misdemeanor charges filed against her last summer for an alleged domestic incident.
Also hurting Sultana was a political action committee called PA Citizens PAC, which emerged in the final weeks of the campaign with a mission of spending $70,000 to defeat her.
Last week the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office approved charging Sultana’s 19-year-old daughter with corrupting the morals of a minor over her alleged role in vandalism to one of the PAC’s signs.
Some of the PAC’s yard signs describe Sultana as “crazy, chaotic and criminal.”
It’s a characterization she vehemently denied, pointing out that she entered the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition probation program in Northampton County Court in March “to protect my family from the vicious attacks of those in power as well as keep my voice so that I can fight for my family and yours.”
Sultana was elected to Easton City Council in 2021 after defeating longtime incumbent Sandra Vulcano in the primary election.
She was able to hold her own when it came to fundraising in her race against Freeman.
Her committee Friends of Taiba Sultana received more than $38,000 in in-kind donations between Jan. 1 and April 16 for services such as media and printing. She raised $6,787 in cash in that timeframe, her campaign finance reports show.
Freeman carried over $22,707 from 2023 and raised $43,946 between March 5 and April 8, giving him a total of $66,653 for his primary challenge. He spent $3,896 and received $23,870 in in-kind services. He ended the first quarter with $62,757.
After being elected in 1982, Freeman served six terms in the 136th before forgoing reelection for an unsuccessful bid for the state Senate in 1994. He returned to the 136th in 1998 and has served ever since.
While out of office, he served as executive director of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee and as Democratic executive director of the Senate Local Government Committee from 1997-98.
In running again, Freeman said he wanted to continue his work as a lawmaker. “I have dedicated myself to representing the needs and concerns of everyday people of Pennsylvania. My record is one of fighting for working families, senior citizens, consumers, and our environment,” he said.
Sultana believed herself to be a voice of change – someone whose life experiences match that of the constituents of the 136th.
Her experiences as a woman, a Muslim, an immigrant and someone who has faced domestic violence and homelessness keep her aware of the needs of Northampton County residents. Sultana entered the race to build “a brighter future where all working people can thrive.”
The 136th District includes Easton, Wilson, parts of Palmer Township, Williams Township, Glendon, West Easton, Freemansburg, Hellertown, and parts of Lower Saucon.