LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. - State Rep. Milou Mackenzie appeared headed toward victory early Wednesday in her rematch with Democratic challenger Kevin Branco in the 131st House District.
Incomplete and unofficial election returns from three counties had Mackenzie with 17,922 votes, or 55%, to Branco's 14,572 votes (45%).
Branco said he was not ready yet to concede defeat.
"We'll call it when it's called," he said in a phone interview early Wednesday. "I guess we'll see tomorrow."
The 131st House District covers parts of Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery counties.
According to unofficial returns:
- Mackenzie garnered 9,240 votes to Branco's 7,737 in Lehigh County
- Branco got 2,115 votes in Northampton County to Mackenzie's 2,105
- Mackenzie recorded 6,577 votes to Branco's 4,720 in Montgomery County
Mackenzie and Branco both ran for the 131st District seat in 2020 as outsiders and business owners equipped to create jobs.
This time, Mackenzie campaigned on her record, saying that the last two years show she is “one of Harrisburg’s strongest watchdogs for taxpayers,” as her website puts it, working to cut spending and regulation.
She touted an endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police and attacked her opponent on social media as beholden to special interests.
Branco ran as a moderate Democrat, focusing on support for government reforms like term limits, an independent redistricting commission and restrictions on gifts to politicians. He also supports efforts to increase state funding for schools in order to reduce their dependence on property taxes.
Mackenzie grew up in the Lehigh Valley, according to her website, working as a teacher before starting her own interior design business more than 30 years ago.
Around the same time Mackenzie started her business, Branco founded Main Street Gym in Hellertown. Branco currently serves on the board of the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce.
The 131st District includes the southwest corner of Northampton County, a strip of southern Lehigh County and a strip of northern Montgomery County.
