It is game-on in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.

Carol Obando-Derstine, a community leader whose family emigrated from Colombia at the age of three, has announced her candidacy for the Lehigh Valley congressional seat presently held by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

“I’m running for Congress because too many families in our district are being squeezed by a system that puts billionaires and special interests first,” said Obando-Derstine. “As a mom, I refuse to stand by while politicians make life harder for the next generation. I know the struggles our families are facing because I’ve lived them and I know the strength of this community because I’ve worked hand in hand with the people building its future. This campaign is about fighting back, standing up for our values, and making sure every family in our district has the opportunity to thrive.”

Obando-Derstine previously served for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey from 2011 to 2016 as his statewide Latino affairs adviser and as a regional director, according to her LinkedIn profile. She worked with PPL Electric Utilities as a supervisor for the previous nine years.

She served as a commissioner for former Gov. Tom Wolf’s Advisory Commission on Latino affairs from 2015-22.

Former congresswoman Susan Wild, who held the seat from 2018-24, and Allentown pastor Greg Edwards, a candidate for the seat in 2018, are expected to join Obando-Derstine at her 10:30 announcement to offer their endorsements of the candidate.

One other Democrat has tossed his hat in the ring for the competitive seat that is expected to draw the attention of the nation. Former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure launched his campaign in February and raised $142,000 during the first quarter of 2025.

Stories have circulated stating that McClure decided to make his run without discussing his potential campaign with Wild, irritating the former congresswoman who had not concluded that she would not be a candidate again in 2026.

The winner of the May 2026 primary is expected to face Rep. Ryan Mackenzie who defeated Wild by approximately 4,000 votes last November in a contest that was among the most expensive in the country at $38 million.

The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) already has its knives out, saying Obando-Derstine was “handpicked” by Wild as her successor.

“Out of touch Democrat Carol Obando-Derstine is running for Congress to be proven loser Susan Wild’s lackey,” said NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole. “Pennsylvanians proved in November that they want nothing to do with the radical agenda pushed by extremists like Wild, and they’ll want nothing to do with Obando-Derstine either.”

Mackenzie for Congress spokesmen Arnaud Armstrong also took swings at Obando-Derstine, Wild, and added an arrow for McClure as well.

“Fresh off being rejected by the voters, Susan Wild has decided that she doesn’t want to lose again, so she has decided to recruit someone who will vote the same she did and simply act as her puppet,” said Armstrong. “Susan Wild’s stated goal was finding someone with ‘no record’ so they could make up an image to fool voters. The sad truth that has been exposed is that Obondo-Derstine is running to carry on Wild’s radical left agenda that caused the worst inflation in decades, disastrous open-border policies, failed foreign policy, and woke mandates. Voters will reject this poorly veiled attempt by Wild’s special interest backers and consultants to obtain a fourth Wild term and all of the far-left policies that would accompany it.

“Democratic primary voters now have a choice between ‘Lamont McLure,’ who sides with violent illegal immigrant criminals as opposed to federal law enforcement, and ‘Carol Onondo-Derstine,’ who sides with the failed policies of Susan Wild and her swampy political consultants.”