Mike Pompeo endorses Lisa Scheller in 7th Congressional District race

As Republicans look to flip U.S. Rep. Susan Wild’s congressional seat this fall, Republican challenger Lisa Scheller could enter the general election with a major boost: the support of former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. 

On Tuesday, Pompeo endorsed Scheller, a Lehigh Valley businesswoman, touting her conservative credentials and framing this year’s election as a critical chance to flip control of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

“Lisa is a staunch advocate for our ally Israel and will fight to secure our southern border, protect our Second Amendment and restore our energy independence,” Pompeo said in a statement. “I encourage all Pennsylvanians in the Lehigh Valley to join me in supporting Lisa for Congress. Together, we will take back the House and retire Nancy Pelosi." 

.@SchellerforPA is a staunch advocate for our ally Israel and will fight to secure our southern border, protect our Second Amendment and restore our energy independence. pic.twitter.com/jdk35aqkgO

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) March 8, 2022

Scheller was also endorsed Tuesday by the Champion American Values PAC, or CAVPAC, which is chaired by Pompeo.

Scheller is the chair and CEO of Silberline Manufacturing, and a former member of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners. She is hoping that her second attempt to unseat Wild will prove successful after coming within 4% of the incumbent congresswoman in 2020. 

This year, both Wild and Scheller will be running in a new congressional district that could give Scheller a leg up. FiveThirtyEight has given the 7th Congressional District a “+4” Republican lean, while The Cook Political Report rated the district as a “toss up” with Republicans holding a 2-point advantage in the outlet’s Partisan Voter Index score.

The Princeton Gerrymandering Project, meanwhile, gives Democrats a slight advantage in the district’s estimated partisan vote share. 

Scheller has campaigned on key conservative issues, including her opposition to abortion, giving parents more power over education and strengthening election integrity. She is facing Kevin Dellicker, a veteran and small business owner, in the May Republican primary.

The new district, coupled with Pompeo’s endorsement and a midterm election environment that could benefit Republicans, could mean more favorable political headwinds for Scheller as the primary gets closer. 

“I am honored to receive the support of Secretary Pompeo,” Scheller said in a statement. “In Congress, I will fight to preserve the American Dream for the people of the Lehigh Valley just as Secretary Pompeo has championed at home and across the world."