Pennsylvania 7: Long Road Ahead in the Lehigh Valley
With Republicans clinging to a narrow House majority, Pennsylvania’s 7th District is on the frontline of the GOP’s battle to maintain control. A perpetual bellwether held by a freshman Republican, the 7th is close to a must-win for Democrats next year.
But the diverse district presents hurdles that mirror the larger challenges the Democratic Party faces across the country: how to stop the bleeding among Hispanic voters, solidify gains in wealthy and growing suburbs, and finally regain a foothold among white blue collar workers.
Ryan Mackenzie, in his third run for Congress, overcame a five-to-one fundraising disadvantage to oust three-term Democrat Susan Wild in one of 2024’s closest races. His win was one of three closely watched House races in Pennsylvania that broke against Democrats, along with the commonwealth’s all-important Senate and presidential contests.
Now Mackenzie finds himself at the center of attention, with no upcoming presidential or Senate races in the Keystone State. And Democrats are already talking about his evenly divided seat as a top five pickup opportunity.
Said one Democrat: “It’s a tall order to flip the House without this seat.”
The Lay of the Land
The 7th District sits in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, bordering the Delaware River to the east. Nearly all of the district’s votes are cast in Lehigh (46 percent) and Northampton (43 percent) counties; Carbon County casts an additional 9 percent and there’s a sliver of Monroe County.
The…
