Sabih wins Democratic nomination in 131st House District
Political newcomer will face incumbent Republican Milou Mackenzie in November
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with comments from Meriam Sabih and more recent results from Montgomerty County.
Meriam Sabih, a freelance writer making her first political run, won the Democratic nomination for the state’s 131st House District, defeating Saucon Valley School Board member Jay Santos.
Sabih of Upper Saucon Township will face incumbent Republican Milou Mackenzie, who is seeking a third term in the state House of Representatives. Mackenzie was unchallenged in her primary.
The 131st includes parts of Northampton, Lehigh and Montgomery counties. The Associated Press declared her the winner before midnight.
Sabih tallied a combined 4,143 votes to Santos’ 1,572, according to unofficial results. Montgomery County still had 22 precincts to report as of midnight.
In Lehigh County, she posted 2,550 votes to Santos’ 626. Montgomery’s tally as of noon Tuesday showed her ahead with 1,221 votes versus 471 for Santos. Sabih lost in Northampton with 372 votes to Santos’ 478, according to county results.
The 44-year-old Sabih has lived in the Lehigh Valley for two decades and has been active in local Democratic politics.
“It was a pleasure to connect to the voters across the 131st district and listen to the issues that are important to them,” Sabih said in an email about her win. “I want to thank my opponent for a good race, but most importantly I want to thank the voters for their resounding support. I look forward to reaching out to every voter in the district so I can fight for them in Harrisburg.”
She went on to say, “I am running to protect our reproductive freedoms, advocate for our public schools, and to defend our democracy. We took our message to over 5,000 doors this primary and we will be taking it to thousands more in the coming months through November. I look forward to meeting the voters in our community and listening to the issues that impact us the most.”
Sabih previously told Armchair Lehigh Valley that the majority of people she has met going door-to-door told her they “want to see a Democratic pro-choice woman on the ballot against Milou Mackenzie.”
Santos, 32, who lives in Lower Saucon Township with his fiancée, stepson and a baby, is a technical solutions engineer. He was elected in a Democratic sweep to the Saucon Valley School Board in November.
He released a statement thanking his supporters.
“Our team fought very hard to bring smart policies forward to Harrisburg. In the future I promise a return to normalcy, where we can feel safe that our government is in good hands”
He asked his supporters “to lean towards Mrs. Sabih who has won our district's confidence.”
Sabih raised $30,111 in her race for the nomination, according to a campaign finance report filed by the Friends of Meriam Sabih for Jan. 1 to April 8.
She spent $9,162 and had $662 in in-kind contributions. She listed zero debts and obligations. Her campaign had $20,948 left over for the campaign against Mackenzie.
State representatives serve two-year terms and will earn $106,422 this year.
Municipalities in the 131st: Lehigh County: Lower Milford, Upper Milford and Upper Saucon townships and Coopersburg with part of Salisbury Township. Montgomery County: Marlborough, Salford and Upper Hanover townships and East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill. Northampton County: Parts of Lower Saucon Township.
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