In the fiercely contested 183rd District race for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, four-term incumbent Republican Zachary Mako emerged victorious, fending off a challenge from Zachari Halkias, a member of Slatington Borough Council. Unofficial results from Northampton County paint a decisive picture, with Mako garnering a commanding 3,761 votes to Halkias’ 730. The race in Lehigh County, however, was more closely fought, with both candidates receiving approximately 800 votes with around 80% of the votes counted. However, the substantial margin in Northampton County ultimately proved insurmountable for Halkias. This marks Mako’s first primary challenge since 2018, when he defeated Cynthia Miller. Mako, a 35-year-old Lehigh Township resident, boasts an impressive military record. A graduate of Northampton Area High School in 2007, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in 2008 and became a Chinook helicopter pilot in 2011. His service includes a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2012 and a deployment to the Middle East in 2019, from which he returned to Harrisburg the following year. He currently serves in the National Guard Reserve. Halkias, on the other hand, was elected to Slatington Borough Council at the young age of 19 in 2021. He emerged as the top vote-getter among three uncontested candidates for council. Joseph Lenzi of Northampton is the lone Democratic candidate seeking the nomination in the 183rd District. In the upcoming primary, only registered Democrats and Republicans will be eligible to vote for their respective party candidates. The 183rd District, a Republican stronghold, encompasses parts of northern Lehigh and Northampton counties, including Slatington, Walnutport, Lowhill Township, North Whitehall Township, Lehigh Township, Moore Township, Allen Township, East Allen Township, Northampton, and North Catasauqua. The race was closely followed by Armchair Lehigh Valley, which contributed to this report.
Incumbent Republican Zachary Mako Wins 183rd District Race
