In 7th, Wild raises four times more, outspends Mackenzie by nearly ninefold

Outside groups indepently spent nearly $6 million in the pivotal race

Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild raised four times as much and spent nearly ninefold more than her Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie in the pivotal 7th Congressional District race, according to newly released federal campaign finance reports for the July 1 to Sept. 30 period.

The race, considered critical to which party controls the House next year, is also attracting significant amounts of national political action committee money in support of and against both candidates. 

The total of outside spending since the summer approaches $6 million, with about half of that being spent in opposition to Mackenzie, according to Federal Elections Commission data filed separately by the committees, which operate independently from the candidates.  

Republicans now hold 220 seats versus the Democrat’s 212. There are also three vacancies. 

Wild, who is seeking a fourth term, brought in $2.5 million in total receipts between July 1 and Sept. 30, according to a report filed Tuesday by Susan Wild for Congress.

The bulk of her nearly $5.5 million in expenditures –  about $4.6 million –  went for media buys to Snyder Pickerill Media, a Chicago-based company that specializes in high-impact television ads and web marketing.

Wild’s committee ended the quarter with $929,441.

The Mackenzie for Congress Committee listed $586,836 in receipts for the third quarter.

Mackenzie spent $632,014, using nearly $60,000 from the campaign’s $365,495 cash on hand to help cover the difference.   

He ended the quarter with $307,039 in the bank.

Wild was unopposed in the Democratic primary in April, which allowed her campaign committee to raise money all year for the general election. 

Mackenzie, however, won the Republican nomination in a three-way primary in April and only after that could his campaign focus on raising money for the general election.  

The 7th Congressional District covers all of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties as well as Eldred and Polk townships and about half of Ross Township in Monroe County.

A recent Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll showed Wild, who is seeking her fourth term, ahead 51% to 45% over Mackenzie, a state representative in the 187th House District making his first bid to unseat her.

Here is a closer look at the campaign finance reports filed in the race. 

Outside groups
Four groups independently spent a total of $395,027 in September and October to support Mackenzie’s candidacy.

Most of that, $333,922, came from Americans for Prosperity Action for advertising and related costs. The Super PAC, backed by billionaire Charles Koch, spent $497,676 to support Mackenzie in his successful primary campaign. 

The other major spender, NRA Political Victory Fund, paid $53,505 for advertisements and mailers.

Six PACs spent a total of $3.14 million in September and October for advertising and other costs in opposition of Mackenzie’s candidacy.

Among the major spenders were the Democratic Campaign Congressional Committee, which identified Wild as one of 29 House Democratic incumbents of being at risk of losing their seats and worthy of additional support, $816,346; the House Majority PAC, which supports Democratic candidates, $1.23 million; the pro-environment LCV Victory Fund, which targeted the 7th District as one of 22 House races and the only one in Pennsylvania, $231,672; Pro-Choice Majority, $673,916; and AFSCME Working Families Fund, $159,024.

Two PACs spent nearly $1.4 million this month in opposition of Wild’s candidacy: National Republican Congressional Committee, which added Mackenzie as one of 26 candidates to its Young Guns program targeting districts that can be flipped to Republicans, $1.22 million; and Americans for Prosperity Action, $171,793.

Nine PACs spent a total of nearly $842,000 in support of Wild, including Democratic Campaign Congressional Committee, $227,363; LCV Victory Fund, $129,847; House Majority PAC, $128,042; Retired Americans PAC, $97,116; AFSCME Working Families Fund, $86,688; National Association of Realtors PAC, $67,104.

All of the PACs are prohibited from coordinating their efforts with any candidate’s campaign.

Susan Wild
Wild’s spending was girded by $3.8 million in cash on hand as of June 30. She raised $2,432,030 in contributions, according to her 3,076-page report. 

The bulk – $2,096,049 – came from individuals. Political party committees and political committees gave $335,980.

Wild’s campaign also had $146,653 in authorized transfers from other committees raising money on her behalf and $10,557 in other income for a total of $2,589,907 in third-quarter receipts.

Susan Wild Third-Quarter Funding*
Beginning balance: $3,855,492
Contributions: $2,432,030
Transfers from authorized committees: $146,653
Other receipts: $10,557
Total receipts: $2,589,907
Expenditures: $5,471,505
Ending balance: $929,441
*Refunds related to contributions and expenses not included.
Source: Federal Election Commission

Large individual donors included $3,300 each from George Soros of Soros Fund Management; his son Alexander Soros; Howard Freedman, an executive with Ollie’s Bargain Outlet; John Landgraf, chairman of Walt Disney Company; Harry Kaufer, an executive at Draftkings; Elaine Wynn, founder of Wynn Resorts, and Penny Pritzker, former secretary of commerce under the Obama administration and sister of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. 

Area contributors included J. Scott Pidcock, owner of Pidcock Co. ($2,300); his wife Gillian Pidcock ($2,300); Allentown attorney Matthew Sorrentino ($2,500); Nat Hyman, CEO of the Hyman Group, ($2,000); attorney Martin Cohen ($1,000), and Lynn Prior, owner of the Allentown Women’s Center ($500). 

Thousands of dollars from individuals flowed through Act Blue, Emily’s List and J Street PAC. 

Wild’s PAC contributions mostly came from labor unions. They included $5,000 each from the Laborers' International Union of North America PAC; the National Automobile Dealers Association PAC, National Association of Postal Supervisors PAC, the National Association of Letter Carriers of USA Political Fund and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Campaign Assistance Fund.

The campaign spent $5,471,505. Besides Snyder Pickerill Media, other expenses included digital consulting and advertising, polling, payroll, mailers and texting services. 

For the entire 2034-24 election cycle, Wild had $7,669,665 in receipts and $6,919,925 in disbursements.

Ryan Mackenzie
Mackenzie, who has been in state office for 12 years, brought in $389,004 in contributions. 

Of that amount, $245,554 came from individuals. PACs contributed another $143,450 while transfers from authorized committees totaled $197,634. His total receipts were $568,836.

Ryan Mackenzie Third Quarter Funding*
Beginning balance: $365,495
Contributions: $389,004
Transfers from authorized committees: $197,634
Total receipts: $586,836
Expenditures: $632,014
Ending balance: $307,039
*Refunds related to donors and expenses not included.
Source: Federal Election Commission

Large individual donors included $3,300 each from Anthony Salvaggio of Allentown; Kenneth Rampolla of Bethlehem; Robert Asher of Gwynedd Valley; his wife Joyce Asher, and Maureen Topper of Bethlehem. 

PAC contributions included $10,000 ($5,000 of which was for primary debt reduction) from the Eye of the Tiger PAC, $5,000 from E-PAC; $3,300 each from the Monroe Energy LLC Fueling the Climb PAC and TKJ PAC.

Mackenzie’s $632,014 in expenditures included $364,507 to American Media & Strategy Group for radio, TV and digital advertising; $25,284 to Capital House Consulting for fundraising consulting and $15,507 to Christy Consulting for fundraising consulting. Mackenzie listed no loans. 

For the 2023-24 election cycle, Mackenzie had $1,263,217 in receipts and $956,177 in disbursements.