Speaker Mike Johnson boosts Ryan Mackenzie’s candidacy in visit to Lehigh Valley
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson stopped in the Lehigh Valley Tuesday to boost Ryan Mackenzie’s congressional candidacy in the pivotal 7th District.
The two Republicans visited Cetronia Ambulance Corps headquarters in South Whitehall Township, carrying donuts from Dunkin’ and coffee from WaWa to thank the ambulance staff during EMS Week.
Johnson said he understands the difficult job of first responders, when at age 12, he saw his firefighter father get seriously burned. “I know firsthand what you go through,” he said.
Mackenzie added, “We just wanted to stop by and say thank you for the good work you’re not only doing this week but the entire year.”
The two then switched to politics, Pennsylvania’s role in the 2024 election and the 7th District race between Mackenzie and Democrat Susan Wild, who is seeking her fourth term in Congress.
“This is a really important state for the upcoming election cycle,” Johnson said. “We have a one-vote margin [in the House], which is why we need Ryan Mackenzie to come join us and help out.” He expects Republicans to retain the House and reclaim the Senate and White House on Nov. 5.
“I think Donald Trump will be elected president. So we'll be in a much better position after the November elections and going into the new Congress in January,” he said.
To see more photos from Speaker Mike Johnson’s visit, click here
Johnson said he has been in Pennsylvania campaigning and fundraising for Republican congressional candidates, beginning with Rob Mercuri in western Pennsylvania and later Rob Bresnahan in northeast Pennsylvania's 8th District. WVIA-FM reported that Johnson attended a fundraiser for Rep. Dan Meuser, who is seeking reelection to a fourth term representing the 9th District, also in northeast Pennsylvania.
The 7th District, comprising all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties and a small section of Monroe County, is considered a toss-up among national political observers.
The closeness of the race is reflected by both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee targeting money and resources to the respective candidates. The committees targeted only a few dozen House races this year.
Before stopping at Cetronia Ambulance Corps, Johnson accompanied Mackenzie on a tour of a Uline warehouse in Trexlertown and a fundraising breakfast.
Johnson, who became speaker last October after conservative Republicans removed Kevin McCarthy for cooperating with Democrats, survived a similar attempt to oust him earlier this month after he pushed through legislation to, among other measures, provide aid to Ukraine. Democrats backed Johnson to keep him as speaker.
Mackenzie, who has opposed aid to Ukraine, supports Johnson despite differences on that issue.
“The thing that is important to recognize is that our party may have small differences of opinions on certain issues, [but] we have very stark differences when it comes to me versus Susan Wild,” he said.
“And that contrast couldn't be any more clear on a wide-open border, which she has allowed. She's voted against the border funding 10 different times. Same with inflation and the massive amount of overspending in Washington, D.C. She has voted for every single plan of Bidenomics,” he said.
In a statement, the Wild campaign didn’t address Mackenzie’s comments but said, “Mike Johnson and Ryan Mackenzie are touting their supposed ‘support’ of emergency services while trying to hide from their record of wanting to gut Social Security and involve the government in your personal health care decisions. On the other hand, Congresswoman Susan Wild has delivered for Allentown’s emergency services and first responders time and time again, bringing large federal investments home to our hospitals, law enforcement officials, and firefighters to keep our community safe.”