U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA-7) flipped her district to Democrat control in 2018 with the help of last-minute redrawing of congressional district maps in Pennsylvania. The seat was previously held by Republican Charlie Dent, who leaned very close to the center. Ms. Wild entered the 116th Congress in 2019 with a record 102 women winning House races that election.
In 2022, Republican-leaning Carbon County was added to District 7, making it more competitive for Republicans. A video of a Zoom call in which Ms. Wild expressed “dismay” about the addition of Carbon County to the district circulated in February, causing Ms. Wild to issue an apology.
Now three Republicans are battling to prevail in the primary. Each believes they are the best candidate to regain party control of District 7, which now encompasses all of the heavily Democrat cities of Allentown and Bethlehem.
A fourth Republican, former Republican congressional aide Allen Issa dropped out of the race in February and threw his support behind Maria Montero.
Susan Wild, Democrat
IncumbentTotal Receipts: $3.5 million
Cash on hand: $2.7 million
Susan Wild was a litigating attorney and handled some high-profile immigration cases before going to Congress.
She co-chairs the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force and sits on the following committees: House Committee on Ethics, Foreign Affairs, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations subcommittee, Europe subcommittees, Education and the Workforce, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions subcommittees.
Ms. Wild has advocated for abortion to be a federal right and for expanding the availability of abortion for more women.
“Being in good health is fundamental to being able to lead a successful life. And, being in control of your own health, empowering you to make your own decisions, is a non-negotiable component,” Ms. Wild said in a statement on the issue.
She wants to raise wages for childcare providers to attract more workers.
Ms. Wild, who is Jewish, released a statement on Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel, saying that the United States cannot let another day pass that further emboldens Iran. She makes several recommendations, including passing aid for Israel’s defense, supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia, and passing humanitarian aid “to counter the desperate conditions facing civilians in Gaza and other vulnerable populations around the world.”
Kevin Dellicker, Republican
Total Receipts: $447,000Cash on hand: $169,000
Kevin Dellicker is a small business owner. His business Dellicker Strategies helps schools and businesses with complex internet technology projects, telecommunications, and cybersecurity.
Mr. Dellicker enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1995 as an infantry soldier and served four years with Charlie Company, 1-111th Infantry in Kutztown. He transferred to the Air National Guard in 1999 and earned his commission as an intelligence officer with the 193rd Special Operations Wing in Harrisburg. He supported domestic operations, diplomatic missions, and foreign wars, including four overseas deployments for the Global War on Terrorism.
According to his campaign website, he worked as an environmental policy adviser to the New York State Senate, and as an economic policy adviser to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge in Harrisburg.
In New York state, he negotiated a $1.75 billion environmental law and $3 billion in state agency budgets. In Pennsylvania, he was instrumental in developing the governor’s tax reform plan, which became the largest tax cut in state history.
On energy, Mr. Dellicker says he will encourage domestic energy production and resist efforts to prematurely replace tried and true energy and transportation sources with unrealistic ideals. He will also oppose efforts by Washington to micromanage the nation’s energy and transportation infrastructure.
He is pro-life, he would seek to deliver more support to volunteer fire and EMS services, and he will work to ensure a strong national defense to deter any aggression from other countries against U.S. interests.
Democrats are printing trillions of dollars, issuing new mandates, raising taxes, and micromanaging the way America conducts business, Mr. Dellicker says. That is causing inflation. He opposes “lawless executive orders that constantly change the rules.”
Ryan MacKenzie, Republican
Total Receipts: $272,000Cash on hand: $117,000
Ryan MacKenzie is a state representative and according to his campaign website, his family fought in the Northampton County Militia during the American Revolution and served in both world wars.
Mr. MacKenzie says he is running because “we’re losing the country those patriots built” and, too often, politicians let us down once they get to Washington.
He promises to be a leader against illegal immigration, to eliminate taxes and job-killing regulations, and to fight racial divisiveness and the forcing of age-inappropriate sexual content on children.
Mr. MacKenzie has served on state and federal boards for economic development, workforce development, and environmental protection. Former President Donald Trump appointed him to serve on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee and as a commissioner on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.
He received his undergraduate degree in finance and international business from New York University and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr. MacKenzie outlines four principles for America. They are: grow the economy, defend our values, secure our communities, restore our freedoms. Each principle has six specific goals
For example, under restore our freedoms, one goal is to fight back against the culture of celebrating abortion and those who want to legalize it up until the moment of birth. Mr. MacKenzie calls for finding a clear alternative to abortion by supporting efforts to reduce the number of abortions, improve maternal health care, and ease pathways to adoption.
Maria Montero, Republican
Total Receipts: $214,000Cash on hand: $89,000
Maria Montero became a mother at 18. Motherhood did not deter her from college. She attended Saint Joseph’s University and Widener School of Law.
Today she is an attorney, an avid outdoorswoman, and a candidate for Congress. She has served as executive director of the State Commission on Women under Gov. Tom Ridge and as the leader of the Pennsylvania Latino Commission. Ms. Montero says she is running to restore the American Dream and has been endorsed by Vivek Ramaswamy.
Her campaign offers four cornerstones: safety, accountability, family finances, and education, or S.A.F.E. Under those categories, she backs law enforcement and a secure border.
She says U.S. policies should be based on two simple questions: “Is it constitutional?” and “Is it in America’s best interests?”
- Restore the integrity of elections
- Strengthen the economy by allowing free markets to work
- Secure all of America’s borders and stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States
- Reduce anti-growth regulations, cut government spending, and end inflation
- Empower local law enforcement to ensure safe communities
- Beat communist China
- Protect the value of life by supporting women, families, and pregnancy resource centers
- Empower parents to make education choices
- Vigorously defend our constitutional rights, especially the Second Amendment
- Restore American energy independence and American manufacturing
