Mackenzie wins GOP primary in 7th Congressional District
He'll face Democrat incumbent Susan Wild in November
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie won a three-way race for the Republican nomination for Congress from the 7th District Tuesday, setting up a November election with Democratic incumbent Susan Wild.
Speaking at a victory party before an enthusiastic crowd at Delizioso Italian Grill outside of Macungie, Mackenzie said the district’s November election will be crucial for the direction of the nation.
“There are very few congressional races in this country that are going to actually be contested and competitive,” Mackenzie said in his remarks, broadcast on WFMZ-TV. “And this is one of them right here. This is ground zero for our country and saving our country.”
The race, as it was two years ago, is considered a toss-up by political data groups and could help determine which party controls the House next year. Presently Republicans hold a slim majority.
Mackenzie won with 42.6% vote (23,488 votes), Kevin Dellicker finished second with 34% (18,780) and Maria Montero third with 23.4% (12,890), according to unofficial results on the state election website.
Mackenzie received the most votes in each of the four counties that comprise the district: all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton and a small section of Monroe.
Mackenzie and Wild were quick to start their fall campaigns Tuesday night, labeling each other as being at the far end of their party’s spectrum.
“We are represented by an extreme politician who is totally out of touch with the American people and what they're facing. Susan Wild does not care about us,” he said.
“There is a much more optimistic future that I hold, and I know all of us here in the room hold. We are concerned about the future direction of our country. We know that a wide open border is causing havoc in this entire country. We know that inflation is hurting the pocketbooks of working Americans. And we know that the policies of Joe Biden and Susan Wild are what are destroying our country … for all of the working families across Pennsylvania and across our country. It is time to get our country back on the right track.”
Wild, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, released a statement by her campaign after Mackenzie declared victory.
The campaign called Mackenzie a “far-right career politician” who has touted his “100% anti-choice voting record.”
“At a time when far-right extremists are taking away a woman’s right to choose, shipping good-paying American jobs overseas, and lying about the integrity of free and fair elections, Pennsylvanians deserve a representative who will stand up for them and against any and all forms of fear and hate,” Wild said in the statement.
“I am proud of my record and the important priorities I have focused on with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Throughout my time in Congress, I have fought to lower costs for Pennsylvania families, bring high-paying manufacturing jobs back to our district, expand access to health care, and keep the government out of private medical decisions.”
The three GOP primary candidates for the most part agreed on key issues, saying they were the better alternative to Wild.
They criticized President Biden’s economic policies that they said led to inflation; supported restrictions at the southern border to make it more difficult for migrants to enter the U.S.; advocated for strong Second Amendment protections for gun owners; rejected additional aid to Ukraine; called for reductions in federal spending and the deficit; supported Israel in its war against Hamas; endorsed President Donald Trump; and promoted strong pro-life positions.
Each touted their experience as to why they should receive the party nomination..
Mackenzie 41, from Lower Macungie Township, served 12 years in the state House, representing the 134th District and, because of redistricting in 2022, the 187th. He pointed to his experience in sponsoring legislation, including some bills that became law, such as expanding the E-Verify system in Pennsylvania to stop immigrants who entered the country illegally from being hired for construction jobs, and closing corporate tax loopholes and eliminating the inheritance tax on small family businesses.
His mother, Milou Mackenzie of Lower Saucon Township, is seeking her third term representing the 131st District in the state House. Mackenzie noted in his remarks Tuesday night that he and his wife, Chloe, gave birth to their first child, a son, 18 days ago.
Dellicker, 53, of Heidelberg Township, made his second bid for the 7th District’s GOP nomination. In 2022, he lost the GOP primary by 1,700 votes to Lisa Scheller, who was defeated by Wild in the general election. Dellicker won the vote in Lehigh and Carbon counties, something he was unable to duplicate this time.
Dellicker never held elected office and touted that as a plus, saying he is not a “professional politician.” He is a businessman, who started his internet and cyber security company Dellicker Strategies 19 years ago. He has been a member of the military for 28 years and is commander of his National Guard unit.
Montero, 47, of Easton, is a personal injury lawyer with the Allentown firm of Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith. She often disvussed her family heritage, with ancestors coming from Ireland, Italy and Peru; she grew up living between Allentown and Summit Hill, Carbon County.
A fourth candidate, law student Allen Issa who was far behind the other candidates in fundraising, dropped out of the race in February and endorsed Montero.
Dellicker’s committee led the fundraising race among the campaigns heading into the primary, raising $447,428 compared to Mackenzie’s $271,983 and Montero’s $214,316.