Biden's re-election campaign to open headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, throughout Pennsylvania

President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, in coordination with the state Democratic Party, is opening campaign headquarters in the Lehigh Valley.

The office, which will be in the South Side neighborhood of Easton and opens Wednesday, will hold volunteer trainings, recruitments and canvass kick offs.

“Our campaign is investing early and building the infrastructure we need to reach and activate our winning coalition across the Lehigh Valley, one of the most diverse regions in the Commonwealth and an area directly benefiting from the Biden-Harris administration’s policies to lower costs and create jobs for working families,” said Nikku Lu, Biden’s Pennsylvania campaign manager, in a statement.

The opening comes as part of a coordinated effort to elect Democrats across Pennsylvania — the campaign announced this week 14 offices, including Easton, across the state, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and its collar counties, Lancaster and York.

It also highlights the importance of the Lehigh Valley as a battleground political district in a battleground state. Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, tied with Illinois for the fifth most votes that could determine the presidency. According to a recent CNN poll, Biden and Trump, the Republican nominee, are neck-in-neck in Pennsylvania, with each projected to earn 46% of the vote.

“There’s little doubt that the prominence of the Lehigh Valley in terms of Pennsylvania politics is on the rise, and when you see campaigns making the effort to establish a greater presence here, it just is another piece of evidence of that as well,” said Christopher Borick, professor of American politics at Muhlenberg College.

Pennsylvania also has a competitive race for a Senate seat in November, with incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey expected to face a challenge from hedge fund CEO David McCormick. And the Lehigh Valley’s race for House of Representatives is expected to be close, as Rep. Susan Wild will face a challenge from one of three Republican hopefuls vying in the April primary election — attorney Maria Montero, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie and businessman Kevin Dellicker.

Mike Marinella, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said his organization also has plans to target the Lehigh Valley after the April 23 primary. The NRCC specifically works to elect Republicans to the House of Representatives.

“Republicans will be working in full force to retire Susan Wild and flip the 7th District red,” Marinella said in a statement.

It is unclear if the Trump campaign plans to open offices in the Lehigh Valley or elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

In a statement, Trump campaign senior advisor Chris LaCivita said Trump and the Republican National Committee are “are fueled by passionate volunteers who care about saving America and firing Joe Biden,” but that they “do not feel obligated however to discuss the specifics of our strategy, timing and tactics with members of the News Media.”

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