Ryan Mackenzie wins Republican primary in 7th congressional district

Ryan Mackenzie is one step closer to making the jump from the state House to the U.S. House. The Republican state Rep. from Lehigh County won the Republican nomination for the 7th congressional district Tuesday night, defeating Kevin Dellicker and Maria Montero. 

Mackenzie’s win sets up a general election matchup against U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, who ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

The three-way Republican race featured Mackenzie, a Lower Macungie Township and state legislator since 2012, Montero, a personal injury lawyer from Easton, and Dellicker, a business owner and veteran of Heidelberg Township. Dellicker and Mackenzie, who previously 

As results trickled in on Tuesday night, Mackenzie maintained the lead he grabbed early on, with the race being called in his favor shortly before 10 p.m.

Mackenzie, a state legislator who has represented parts of Lehigh County since 2012, touted his experience in Harrisburg throughout the campaign. He received endorsements from conservative organizations including Americans for Prosperity, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund and GOPAC, as well as a variety of local lawmakers. Former Republican gubernatorial candidates backed the other candidates, with Lou Barletta endorsing Dellicker and Kathy Barnette endorsing Montero. 

Wild, who is seeking her third full term, will be facing off against her third challenger since taking office in 2018. 

Wild’s seat in the 7th Congressional District is seen as an achievable flip for Republicans hoping to hold onto the U.S. House majority. Cook Political Report has the seat as a “Democrat Toss Up,” similar to Wild’s previous reelection campaigns.

In the November 2020 election, Wild defeated Republican Lisa Scheller by more than 14,000 votes. Wild defeated Scheller again two years later, that time by just 5,837 votes. 

Wild said in a statement Tuesday night she plans on “building on all the progress” between now and November, and beyond.

“Throughout my time in Congress, I have fought to lower costs for Pennsylvania families, bring high-paying manufacturing jobs back to our district, expand access to health care, and keep the government out of private medical decisions,” Wild said. “This campaign is about so much more than the results of a single election. At a time when far-right extremists are taking away a woman’s right to choose, shipping good-paying American jobs overseas, and lying about the integrity of free and fair elections, Pennsylvanians deserve a representative who will stand up for them and against any and all forms of fear and hate.”