Warren Unseats Emrick in Pennsylvania House Race
Democrat Jeff Warren defeated Republican state Rep. Joe Emrick in the 137th District during the 2026 midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Political Parties
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Democrat Jeff Warren defeated Republican state Rep. Joe Emrick in Pennsylvania's 137th District on Tuesday, according to Associated Press tallies. With about 97% of the vote counted, Warren led 54% to 45.9%.
Why it matters
The result ends Emrick's bid for reelection after eight terms in the state House and reflects Republican losses across the state and nation in the 2026 midterms. Voter anger toward President Donald Trump was cited as a factor in the broader Republican defeats.
Unofficial tallies with about 97% of the vote counted showed Warren at 15,812 votes (54%) and Emrick at 13,410 votes (45.9%), a gap of roughly 2,400 votes. Emrick had won the district by 1,316 votes in 2024 and by 703 votes in 2022, and the outstanding ballots were not yet reflected in the figures.
The players
Jeff Warren
Jeff Warren is a Northampton County commissioner and former Easton City Council member who won the Democratic bid for the 137th District seat.
Joe Emrick
Joe Emrick is a Republican state representative from Northampton County serving his eighth term in the Pennsylvania House who lost his reelection bid.
The details
The Associated Press called the race for Warren around 1:30 a.m. after unofficial counts showed him ahead of Emrick. Warren is a Northampton County commissioner and former Easton City Council member, and the district covers Nazareth, Tatamy, Bethlehem, Lower Nazareth, Upper Nazareth, and parts of Hanover and Palmer.
Timeline
2022: Emrick defeated Anna Thomas by 703 votes.
2024: Emrick defeated Anna Thomas by 1,316 votes.
November 3, 2026: Midterm election in which Warren defeated Emrick.
November 4, 2026, about 1:30 a.m.: Associated Press called the race for Warren.
Season Trajectory
The loss is one of the Pennsylvania House seats that flipped as Republicans suffered defeats nationwide in the 2026 midterms. Emrick had previously held the 137th District by narrow margins of 703 votes in 2022 and 1,316 votes in 2024.
The result changes which party holds the 137th District seat in the Pennsylvania House, affecting representation for residents of Nazareth, Tatamy, Bethlehem, and surrounding municipalities. Voters in the district will be represented by Warren rather than Emrick once the outcome is finalized.
The takeaway
Close, shifting margins in Pennsylvania House districts show how small vote totals can decide control of individual seats. Readers tracking state legislative results should watch certified counts, which can differ from unofficial election-night tallies.
Further reading
Explore more on Political Parties coverage across Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Morning Call.
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