Incumbent Susan Wild (D) and Ryan Mackenzie (R) are running in the general election for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District on November 5, 2024.
In 2022, Wild defeated Lisa Scheller (R) 51.0%-49.0% in what was the most expensive House race in the state, according to the Federal Election Commission. Both parties are targeting the district, which media outlets, including CNN and The Pennsylvania Capital-Star, call a Pennsylvania bellwether. The National Republican Congressional Committee included the seat on their list of 37 target seats. To read about NRCC targeting initiatives, click here. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also included Wild in the Frontline Program for vulnerable incumbents. For a full list of incumbents receiving support through the program, click here.
Wild was elected to Congress in 2018. Before holding elected office, she served as solicitor for Allentown, Pennsylvania. Wild is running on her record in Congress and said her legislative priorities include “lowering prescription drug prices, expanding Medicare, supporting labor and education, addressing the climate crisis, and supporting PA-07’s thriving manufacturing sector, to continue to grow PA-07’s economy to bring more good-paying jobs to our community.”
Mackenzie was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012. Mackenzie is running on his record in the state house and said he supports America First policies, a term often associated with former President Donald Trump (R) and his platform. On his campaign website, Mackenzie said, “America is on the wrong track and the politicians in Washington are only making it worse with crippling inflation, open borders, rising crime, and their political games – all while we struggle in the real world. My goal for Congress is simple: make government work for you again and focus on the priorities that will help us the most right away.”
Based on second-quarter 2024 reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Wild raised $5.06 million and spent $1.26 million, and Mackenzie raised $746,824 and spent $373,568. To review all the campaign finance figures in full detail, click here.
All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election in 2024. Republicans have a 220 to 212 majority with three vacancies. As of June 2024, 45 members of the U.S. House had announced they were not running for re-election. To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here.
In the 2022 election in this district, the Democratic candidate won 51.0%-49.0%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 49.7%-49.1%.