BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Ryan Mackenzie on social media Monday night in the state lawmaker's bid to oust U.S. Rep. Susan Wild from Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.
In a Truth Social post, the 45th president lauded Mackenzie, saying he would stick up for veterans, fight inflation, grow the economy and defend 2nd Amendment rights.
"Ryan Mackenzie has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Trump wrote.
Mackenzie, a 12-year state representative known for his fiscal policy in Harrisburg, has enthusiastically embraced Trump on the campaign trail.
During a primary debate in February, Mackenzie attacked Republican opponent Kevin Dellicker over what Mackenzie characterized as a lack of support for the former president.
While all three of the GOP hopefuls had publicly backed Trump, Mackenzie argued he was the only candidate in the PA-7 race to endorse the former president.
Voters in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties and a sliver of Monroe County will decide between Wild, a three-term incumbent, and Mackenzie.
Wild has focused her campaign on protecting rights, including abortion and access to IVF fertilization.
Mackenzie has launched attack ads blaming Wild and the Biden administration for inflation, the rising costs of essential goods and crime levels.
First local Trump endorsement in 4 years
The outcome of the Lehigh Valley's congressional race could carry national implications. Since 2021, control of the U.S. House has been decided by a dozen or fewer seats.
PA-7 has been among the most competitive House races in the country in that time, and both major parties have poured millions of dollars into flipping or protecting the seat.
Trump last endorsed a local congressional candidate in 2020.
Even though Republican hopeful Dean Browning modeled his campaign around Trump's policies, the real estate tycoon and reality TV star threw his endorsement to former Lehigh County Commissioner Lisa Scheller days before the Republican primary.
While it helped Scheller eke out a victory in the primary, the endorsement was used by Wild to tie Scheller to the unpopular president in the general election.
Scheller narrowly lost that race but challenged Wild again in 2022. However, the rematch didn't feature an endorsement from Trump.
It's unclear whether Trump withheld support following Scheller's earlier defeat, or the Scheller campaign sought to distance itself from the former president.
