This is the second in our series highlighting the key U.S. House of Representatives races in the Commonwealth.

The 7th Congressional District comprises Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe (part) and Northampton counties.

Democrat Susan Wild is the incumbent and faces Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie.

Susan Wild* (D)
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Age: 67
Served in Congress since 2019
BA: American ’78; J.D.: George Washington ’82
Resides: South Whitehall Township

Issues

• Make sure veterans have world-class health care, strong pensions, and the tools to transition to civilian life
• Increase educators’ pay and equitably fund public education, help more students gain access to affordable higher education, and put us on a path toward universal preschool education
• Fight for a woman’s right to control her own body, make her own health care decisions, and have equal rights and protection in the workplace
• Reduce the costs of apprenticeship programs, invest in our infrastructure and rural broadband, and support our small businesses
• Access to quality, affordable health care – strengthen and expand the ACA
• LGBTQ+ community deserves the same rights and equality under the law as every other American
• Fight to protect Social Security and Medicare and oppose any budget cuts or efforts to privatize these programs

Ryan Mackenzie (R)
Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Age: 42
State Representative, 187th District
BS: New York U. ’04; MBA: Harvard Business School ’10
Resides: Lower Macungie Township

Issues

• Reduce wasteful government spending that is driving inflation 
• Secure our nation’s border and finish building the wall. Withhold taxpayer-funded grants from sanctuary cities, and require deportation for illegal immigrants caught committing other crimes.
• Stop cuts to Social Security and Medicare
• Protect and promote American jobs and manufacturing. Expand the required use of E-Verify for new hires to make sure that only American citizens and those allowed to work in the country are placed into employment.
• Support energy independence. Oppose cap-and-tax schemes that prioritize a radical climate agenda
• Respect those who protect our nation and communities. Increase funding for our police, firefighters, and EMS; promote volunteerism and community engagement; and, stand up against demoralizing “defund the police” policies
• Cut and eliminate taxes that are taking money out of the pockets of American workers and impeding economic growth; Stop the overregulation that is crushing America’s entrepreneurial spirit, return to the practice of removing two regulations for every new one
• Implement a comprehensive plan to take on China. Stop the sale of American agriculture land, critical infrastructure, and land near military bases to investors with ties to the CCP. Crack down on theft of American intellectual property. Ban TikTok on all government devices and in taxpayer-funded venues like public schools, divest retirement funds from assets tied to the CCP
• Implement term limits for elected officials and bureaucrats. Ban Members of Congress from trading stocks based on insider information

Debates

• WFMZ-TV (September 16 | Part 1 | Part 2)
• Blue Ridge Cable (September 15)

In The News

• PA-07 Forecast Model (Decision Desk HQ and The Hill)
• This Lehigh Valley Congressional Race is Overshadowed by the Presidential Election But Could Determine Who Controls the House. (Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/2/24)
• Race For Congress in PA’s 7th: Where Wild, Mackenzie Stand on Immigration. (Armchair Lehigh Valley, 9/29/24)
• Why IVF Has Taken a Central Role in the Lehigh Valley’s Race for Congress. (Allentown Morning Call, 9/27/24)
• Wild, Mackenzie Meet During Debate. (Lehighton Times Online, 9/17/24)
• Wild, Mackenzie Each Claim the Center in Carbon County Debate. (LehighValleyNews.com, 9/16/24)
• Wild, Mackenzie Face Off on Inflation, Abortion, Immigration in First Debate. (Allentown Morning Call, 9/6/24)
• Susan Wild and Ryan Mackenzie Mix It Up in a Testy PA-7 Congressional Debate. (LehighValleyNews.com, 9/6/24)

By The Numbers

Dave Redistricting Partisan Lean: D+2.7 (50.23% – 47.53%)