BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Every Tuesday, Chris Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, sits down with LehighValleyNews.com politics reporter Tom Shortell for Lehigh Valley Political Pulse on WLVR.
They discuss the latest trends emerging from science-based polls to break down local, state and national campaigns and issues.
This week, the two talk about the politics on a local and state level.
Pennsylvania could see impacts from the incoming Trump administration in areas like energy through potential expansion of pipelines.
Compared to President Joe Biden's term, Borick said, parts of the country — especially Pennsylvania — saw "lots of drilling, lots of pipelines," and that "the petroleum industry, natural gas industries, had record years." Borick said he believes President-Elect Donald Trump could open the door "for even more growth within the industry in Pennsylvania and beyond."
Talking about Pennsylvania's economy, Borick and Shortell also discuss the state's budget with points about spending in education, taxes and if Gov. Josh Shapiro could end up a presidential candidate in 2028, depending on how certain policies play out.
The next election showcases a handful of local races, from Allentown Mayor to Northampton County Executive, which could raise questions about term limits.
"We've polled this over time, and I've looked at it, you know, in broader research, it's something that people don't feel passionately about," Borick said. "They're generally supportive of term limits, but it's not something that's top of mind in terms of things [voters] want."
Looking to dive deeper into state and local politics?
Political Pulse airs throughout the day Tuesdays on 91.3 WLVR. You can listen to an extended version of the conversation by clicking the listen button above.
