Lehigh Republican DA faces party censure for supporting Democratic candidate
GOP says endorsement of Josh Siegel for county executive betrays its principles
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan, a Republican, could be censured by his party for endorsing Democrat Josh Siegel in his bid to become county executive.
In a statement Thursday, the Lehigh County Republican Committee “strongly denounced” Holihan for the endorsement, adding he betrayed “Republican principles and values, the public's trust and his obligation to public safety.”
Holihan declined to comment, saying in an email “this is an issue to be addressed within the party, not in the media.”
The Republican committee’s press release said Siegel “has a well-established record of far-left extremism which represents a radical shift from the values that Lehigh County holds dear, particularly with respect to supporting law enforcement. Siegel has defended anti-police rhetoric, participated in anti-police demonstrations, and has supported defunding law enforcement.”
Committee members will meet within two weeks, possibly Feb. 25, to consider censuring Holihan, said party chair Joe Vichot. The censure carries no penalty but sends a symbolic message, he said.
In response, Siegel called the possible censure “political theater.” Siegel and other key county Democrats endorsed Holihan before the 2023 primary for district attorney, where Holihan was unopposed in the GOP contest. No Democrat ran in that party’s primary, and Holihan captured the Democratic nomination as a write-in candidate.
“Gavin Holihan is an incredible public servant who has modernized the DA's office, created community relationships that have resulted in quicker arrests and made our streets safer,” Siegel said. “I've always stood by his office and its efforts.”
He said he endorsed Holihan for the Democratic nomination in 2023 “because I believe the person matters more than blind loyalty to a party – and [Republicans] didn't issue any attacks at that time of him having my support. Politics shouldn't be a cult, people are tired of the tribal warfare of party identity – the Lehigh GOP is demonstrating they're obsessed with blind loyalty to a party.”
In its statement, the county Republican Committee echoed recent comments by Mike Welsh, one of three Republicans seeking the nomination in the May 20 primary for county executive. Welsh said Siegel has “amassed a record of supporting a myriad of far-left positions.”
The Republican group said, “Siegel’s extremist positions would, if implemented, threaten the safety and well-being of our community by crippling our police force, leaving residents vulnerable to crime and undermining the hardworking men and women who serve to protect us.”
Siegel pointed to his record on public safety. As state representative, he said he supported funding for 1,500 additional police officers statewide and obtained money so Allentown could hire 40 police officers; while a member of Allentown City Council for two years, he voted in favor of police budgets totaling $76 million that increased spending. As a county executive candidate, he said he would propose countywide police and fire services and additional resources for the DA's office.