Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), a three-term incumbent, conceded to Republican Ryan Mackenzie within the problem for her Lehigh Valley Home seat in a key race for the Home majority that pundits although additionally may be an indicator within the White Home race.
“There is no sugarcoating it: this is a bitterly disappointing outcome,” Wild mentioned in a press release posted on social platform X.
She famous “it is of utmost importance that I first state what should be obvious: I lost this election, and my opponent won. I congratulate my opponent on winning this seat, and I am going to do everything to ensure a smooth transition, because the people of this district deserve nothing less.”
Wild narrowly received reelection in 2022 by 2 factors, and polls had proven her main Mackenzie by a slim margin — marking a significant upset for Home Democrats.
Resolution Desk HQ has not but projected a winner within the race, although Mackenzie was main Wild 50.7 % to 49.3 % with 95 % of the estimated vote reported.
Her seat was a high goal of the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee within the GOP’s bid to keep up its slender majority within the Home. Wild was additionally part of the Democratic Congressional Coordinating Committee’s frontline member safety program.
The seventh District, together with Allentown and north of Philadelphia, is sort of evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.
The district additionally has a big Latino and Puerto Rican inhabitants, which Wild has been working to achieve out to, particularly within the wake of feedback at a rally for former President Trump at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place a comic known as Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”
The race was one of the crucial costly within the nation, with either side investing closely. In keeping with Open Secrets and techniques, extra than $27 million was spent, making it the seventh most costly congressional race.
High surrogates in each events have stopped within the district not too long ago to stump for Wild and Mackenzie, together with Home Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) and Home Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.). On the Republican facet, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) additionally stumped for Mackenzie.
Trump has additionally campaigned within the district not too long ago, rallying with Mackenzie to flip the seat.
Wild first received election to the seat in 2018 in a particular election to succeed average Republican Rep. Charlie Dent, who has criticized Trump and mentioned he was voting for Vice President Harris. Earlier than Dent, former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) additionally held the seat.
Wild has served because the Home’s Ethics Committee chair and, previous to profitable the election in 2018, was Allentown’s solicitor.
