Allentown GOP Rep. Charlie Dent To Resign In May

ALLENTOWN, PA — Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent says he is resigning in May. Dent said in a release he decided to leave Congress after talking with his family and "careful reflection." Serving the 15th district was a tremendous responsibility, Dent said, and the "privilege of a lifetime."

Dent says he believes he positively impacted peoples' lives and made a difference in Congress.

"I am especially proud of the work I have done to give voice to the sensible center in our country that is often overlooked or ignored," he said. "It is my intention to continue to aggressively advocate for the responsible governance and pragmatic solutions in the coming years."

Dent's district is located in the Lehigh Valley and includes parts of Allentown and Hershey.

It wasn't immediately clear if there will be a special election for the seat. POLITICO initially reported, citing party officials, that the seat would remain vacant until Election Day in November, but later retracted the tweet.

I’ve deleted my tweet saying no special in Dent’s seat. That’s what party officials were saying, but thats no longer clear.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 17, 2018

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