Republican Ryan Mackenzie unseats incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in 7th District
Republican Ryan Mackenzie defeated three-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in Tuesday’s election to represent the 7th Congressional District in an acrimonious high-stakes and high-priced contest, according to unofficial returns.
Mackenzie, with 52.2% of the vote, had an 8,000-vote lead over Wild with nearly all ballots counted.
He thanked his supporters, volunteers and voters during a speech at the Americus Hotel in Allentown.
“What you did today is something that is so significant that only probably about 2% of challengers will defeat an incumbent. And we did that right here in Pennsylvania. We were outspent by millions and millions of dollars [on a campaign] that was filled with lies that were put on our airwaves and debunked,” he said in remarks to the crowd broadcast by WFMZ-TV.
“We got the truth out through our message to our voters that we are going to improve the economy, secure our border, and bring peace to the world.”
With Mackenzie’s victory, Republicans can add one more member to their House contingent in 2025. Presently, Republicans hold a 220-212 majority; there are three vacancies.
Pennsylvania also appeared to lose another Democratic seat in Congress, as incumbent Matt Cartwright was losing to Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr., who had 51% of the vote in northeast Pennsylvania’s 8th District, according to unofficial returns.
The 7th District covers all of Northampton, Lehigh and Carbon counties and, in Monroe County, Eldred and Polk townships and about half of Ross Township.
An October Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll showed Wild ahead 51% to 45%, but considering the poll’s margin of error, the result could have gone either way.
And that’s apparently what happened. Mackenzie led in Northampton, Monroe and Carbon; Wild took Lehigh. Mackenzie led Wild 197,048 to 181,169, unofficial totals showed.
At least $15 million was spent on the race by the candidates and independent PACs supporting or opposing them, according to Federal Election Commission data. The race was marked by a barrage of TV ads criticizing or endorsing the candidates.
But Wild had a huge advantage in fundraising. For the campaign, she raised $8.1 million and spent $7.5 million, according to the latest FEC data. Mackenzie, since his hard-fought, victorious three-way April 23 primary, raised about $1 million and spent about $800,000.
Wild, 67, a lawyer from South Whitehall Township, served in Congress for six years. Her campaign did not respond to an email request for comment sent at 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Mackenzie, 42, of Lower Macungie Township, served in the state House for more than 12 years, first representing the 134 District and the last two years, because of redistricting, the 187th.
Mackenzie’s message echoed themes raised by Republicans nationwide and caught on with voters. He connected Wild to Biden administration policies on immigration that he said led to open borders and unsafe cities, the economy that had the highest inflation rate in 40 years and foreign affairs with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Wild attacked Mackenzie’s record on reproductive rights and his position to end military funding for Ukraine. She criticized Republican efforts to kill bipartisan legislation in February that would have addressed immigration and border problems.
In his speech a the Americus, Mackenzie said, “Our positivity and our message of the way that we are going to change Washington, D.C., and change the Lehigh Valley resonated with people all across our congressional district.”
To view more photos from the Ryan Mackenzie watch party, click here.