There's a river, a stateline, and several municipal lines between the 22-78 split in Pohatcong Township, NJ and the 22-78 merger just past the turnpike. Politically though, there's little division at this point. Phillipsburg elected a Democratic Mayor and Council. Easton doesn't have a competitive Republican Party, and voted entirely Democratic on Tuesday too. Palmer Township voted Democratic on most of the ticket Tuesday, and has a Democratic majority governing it. Wilson Boro is a solidly Democratic town. Bethlehem Township has flipped to Democratic majorities. Bethlehem City has no Republican Party to speak of. Allentown is not a competitive place politically either, and that was basically proven on Tuesday. You can find Republicans on the eastern edge of that stretch in Pohatcong, and out west of Allentown a bit, but in between, you have a dark blue stretch politically.
This is worth noting when looking ahead to 2016 and 2017's elections. If a Democratic candidate can turn these people out in a countywide or larger district race, they can win. Sure, Republicans may win in the northern tier of the county, and somewhat south of 78, but there are less people there. They can only win elections in the Lehigh Valley now that are gerrymandered or have super low turnout. That fact should not be lost on Democrats in the region.
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