Democratic incumbent state Sen. Lisa Boscola no longer represents residents in the Times News area. Through redistricting, her area has moved east in Northampton County.

She faces a challenge in her re-election bid in the 18th senatorial District.

Her opponent is Republican John Merhottein. Both candidates were unopposed in the May Primary Election.

The district consists of parts of Lehigh County, consisting of the City of Bethlehem (Lehigh County portion); and parts of Northampton County, consisting of the cities of Bethlehem (Northampton County portion) and Easton, the townships of Bethlehem, Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Lower Nazareth, Lower Saucon, Palmer, Plainfield, Upper Mount Bethel, Upper Nazareth, Washington and Williams, and the boroughs of Bangor, East Bangor, Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, Nazareth, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown, Tatamy, West Easton, Wilson and Wind Gap.

Boscola has represented the district since 1998 and previously served four years in the state House. Before becoming a legislator, she was the deputy court administrator for Northampton County from 1987-93.

Boscola earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Villanova in 1984 and her master’s degree in political science from Villanova in 1985.

Merhottein is a commissioner in Bethlehem Township. A longtime resident of the Lehigh Valley, he served in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield as a decorated U.S. Marine.

He later earned a certificate in computer programming and has worked in the information technology field for more than 20 years as a computer programmer and EDI analyst.

A Pennsylvania senator’s base salary is $95,432.