ALLENTOWN, Pa. — With Vice President Kamala Harris stepping into the race after President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid Sunday, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk is hoping for more of the same from the new presumptive Democratic nominee.
The Biden-Harris administration “has been phenomenal for cities like Allentown,” Tuerk told LehighValleyNews.com on Tuesday.
He said he’s due to attend an event hosted by the vice president this week, where he hopes to again talk with Harris about Allentown and “improve our position” with federal officials.
But it’s unclear whether Harris will be there after officially launching her presidential campaign Tuesday to challenge Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“I can't say enough good things about President Biden, and I'm just incredibly excited to work to get Vice President Harris elected to continue the good things going here."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
The mayor credited Biden for bringing about “the lowest levels of Latino unemployment that we’ve ever seen in this country,” while sending Allentown tens of millions in federal funding for infrastructure, housing and other city priorities.
“The president has been absolutely amazing — him with his administration,” Tuerk said. “He's worked with Vice President Harris to deliver for Allentown, for Pennsylvania.
“I can't say enough good things about President Biden, and I'm just incredibly excited to work to get Vice President Harris elected to continue the good things going here."
Excitement evident
Democrats “had a good case” to make “and a good opportunity to win” with Biden as the presidential nominee, Tuerk said.
But Harris’ rapid ascension to the top of the ticket has brought new energy and optimism to the party, he said.
“Although I strongly believed in Joe Biden's ability to lead and I believed in our ability to win in an election, I now … don't have to try to convince voters of that.”Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
“I’m excited; I’m feeling the excitement from people in our city already,” Tuerk said.
Harris broke 2024 fundraising records by raising more than $81 million in the 24 hours after Biden’s withdrawal, according to the Associated Press.
His exit could also provide an opportunity for door-knockers and higher-profile campaign surrogates such as Tuerk to have deeper conversations about issues and candidates’ qualifications with voters.
“We can talk about Vice President Kamala Harris and her track record as a prosecutor when we’re dealing with a convicted felon on the other side of the ballot."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
“Although I strongly believed in Joe Biden's ability to lead and I believed in our ability to win in an election, I now … don't have to try to convince voters of that,” Tuerk said.
“We can go back and focus on the qualifications of the vice president. We can talk about Vice President Kamala Harris and her track record as a prosecutor when we’re dealing with a convicted felon on the other side of the ballot."
Continue Biden's work
Tuerk said he expects Harris to continue Biden’s work while “making significant investments” to protect women's reproductive rights and “taking on the people who would threaten our democracy.”
He highlighted the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which the organization describes as a “roadmap” to ensure the next conservative president is successful.
Project 2025 is “focused on making life significantly worse for people in cities like Allentown,” Tuerk said.
Dubbing it “the Trump plan,” the first-term Allentown mayor said Project 2025 calls for “a draconian approach to migration” and would present new challenges for people seeking reproductive health care.
“I want to be cautious about the use of words like ‘threat’ or ‘danger,’ but I think there’s a very clear danger presented to women in Project 2025,” Tuerk said.
Shapiro’s potential VP run a win-win: Mayor
With Harris all but guaranteed to win the party’s nomination for president, many have turned their attention to the new opening for Democratic running mate,
“I think that it would be amazing for the state of Pennsylvania and for the city of Allentown to have our governor as a VP candidate. But I also really love Gov. Shapiro, and ... I appreciate his leadership here in the state.”Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is among four Democrats who have emerged as possible contenders for the vice presidential nomination.
Shapiro easily beat Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano in the 2022 governor’s race, and his status as top Democrat in a battleground state makes him an attractive choice to run alongside Harris.
Tuerk on Tuesday said Allentown wins whether Shapiro joins the Democratic ticket or opts to focus on his current role as governor.
“I think that it would be amazing for the state of Pennsylvania and for the city of Allentown to have our governor as a VP candidate,” he said.
“But I also really love Gov. Shapiro, and ... I appreciate his leadership here in the state.”
