U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie to appear on CNN town hall on Thursday
7th Congressional District residents can submit questions for the event, get a chance to appear on the show
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican who represents the 7th Congressional District, will be among four House members from battleground districts who will be part of a CNN town hall that will air live at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
In addition to Mackenzie, “America Asks Congress” will feature Mike Lawler (R-NY), Derek Tran (D-CA) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT). It will be hosted by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Kaitlan Collins.
The lawmakers will take questions from a live studio audience made up of Republicans, Democrats and independents, including constituents from each member’s district, according to CNN. Tapper and Collins will also ask questions. Topics include the economy, Trump’s second administration and the state of the Democratic Party.
7th District residents wishing to submit questions or get a chance to appear on the show can click here.
Mackenzie said he is looking forward to the event.
“We live in divided times, and it’s critical that we be able to come together to speak openly and honestly about the issues affecting Americans here in the Greater Lehigh Valley and throughout the country,” he said in a press release. “I’m hopeful that we can cut through the noise and talk about delivering real, bipartisan solutions for the people.”
Pennsylvania’s 7th includes all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties and a sliver of Monroe County.
It is considered a key swing district. Mackenzie, a former state representative, defeated three-term Democrat Susan Wild in November. Before Wild, the Lehigh Valley was represented by Charlie Dent, a moderate Republican and Trump critic who left before his last term expired. He is now a political commentator.
Cook Political Report has labeled the district a “toss-up” in the 2026 midterms.
Mackenzie filed his intentions with the Federal Election Commission to run again three days after emerging as the November winner. Wild has stated she will not seek reelection, but told Politico that she is working “to make sure we have a really solid Democratic nominee” for the 7th.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure has announced he will run in the 2026 Democratic primary election with the goal of defeating Mackenzie in the general election.
Northampton County Executive McClure will fight for working class if elected to Congress
Also considering a run in the 7th is Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor who resigned from the Department of Justice after disagreeing with an order dropping charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, according to Politico. Crosswell declined to comment when contacted by Politico.
Mackenzie’s appearance on CNN will be the second time he has fielded questions since taking office in January.
Seven takeaways from U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s telephone town hall
He held a telephone town hall on March 20 where constituents asked about whether he supports cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and how he felt about Elon Musk and DOGE firing federal employees and closing federal departments. He was also quizzed on his thoughts about Ukraine and illegal immigrants.