Incumbent Ana Tiburcio concedes 22nd House District primary to Gerlach
State Rep. Ana Tiburcio has conceded the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 22nd House District to challenger Ce-Ce Gerlach. The defeat ended Tiburcio’s bid for a full two-year term a few months after she won a February special election for the office.
Gerlach, an Allentown City Council member, declared victory on primary election night Tuesday, when she held a 322-vote lead in early unofficial Lehigh County returns. Tiburcio waited until Lehigh County finished counting mail-in and provisional ballots before publicly conceding late Wednesday.
The complete but still-unofficial count — 1,692 (56.76%) to 1,289 (43.24%) — extended Gerlach’s margin to 403 votes.
Gerlach will face Republican Robert E. Smith Jr., who was unopposed on the GOP ballot, on Nov. 3.
Tiburcio defeated Smith with 67% of the vote in the Feb. 24 special election, becoming the Lehigh Valley’s first Latino state lawmaker. She filled the seat previously occupied by Josh Siegel, who resigned to become Lehigh County executive. Her term expires Nov. 30.
Tiburcio said Gerlach will have her support in the general election.
“I know that despite our differences, she and I both agree our district deserves the very best — our schools deserve to be fully funded and equitable, our working families deserve fair compensation and affordable necessities, and our community deserves to be a safe place for all,” Tiburcio said in her statement. The former Allentown School Board member thanked voters, her campaign team and volunteers, fellow representatives and loved ones.
“This campaign may be over,” Tiburcio’s statement continued, “but my commitment to our community is not. I look forward to fighting hard for this district through the remainder of my term, and then returning to the place I have called home for more than 30 years to continue that fight in my own way.”
The heavily Democratic 22nd district covers East Allentown, parts of Center City and three wards in Salisbury Township. The seat is considered key to the Democrats holding their slim edge in the House.
Tiburcio had the support of party establishment including Lehigh County state lawmakers and Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk in Tuesday’s primary; Gerlach also had the support of local officials including Siegel, her former city council ally, as well as endorsements from progressive groups such as Lehigh County Democratic Socialists of America.
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