The 2026 election is still more than a year away, but candidates are already lining up in the Lehigh Valley’s highly competitive 7th congressional district.
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who ousted former Rep. Susan Wild last year and is running unopposed for the GOP nomination, will face one of so far five Democratic challengers in November 2026.
Democrats are aiming to harness perceived anger at the GOP for forthcoming cuts to some social programs and a still-stagnant US economy, whereas Mackenzie is aiming to tout economic progress and immigration crackdowns in his pitch to 2026 midterm voters.
Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional district is considered one of the most competitive in the country that determines which party controls the House of Representatives. The margins of the election have been razor thin in recent years — Mackenzie ousted Wild by just one percentage point, or 4,000 votes, and Wild, in 2022, was re-elected to a third term by a slim two percentage point margin, or around 6,000 votes.
The primary election will take place May 19, and the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Here is who is running, their campaign platform, and who is supporting them.
Ryan Mackenzie
Mackenzie is a freshman representative of the 7th congressional district, representing Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon and western Monroe counties. He is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Prior to his election to Congress, he represented state district 187, in Lehigh County, in the Pennsylvania House.
In Congress, he has largely supported Donald Trump’s agenda, voting to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill” which extends and broadens tax cuts for most Americans, injected an additional $30 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and limits access to the social programs Medicaid and SNAP via implementing work requirements for those receiving benefits.
He has the backing of the Republican party: Donald Trump endorsed him in a Truth Social post in May, where he called Mackenzie an “America First patriot, who is doing an incredible job representing the great people of Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional district.”
In the most recently available campaign finance reports from the second quarter of the year, Mackenzie significantly outraised his Democratic opponents, bringing in over $800,000 in campaign contributions.
Lamont G. McClure
McClure was sworn in as Northampton County’s executive in 2018 and was reelected to a second term that started in 2022. Before his time at the helm of the county, he was a Northampton County commissioner from 2006 to 2013.
He was the first Democrat to announce a challenge against Mackenzie this February. He has called himself an advocate for working people and said, if elected, he would ensure that access to Social Security and Medicare are protected.
McClure has received endorsements from several prominent Lehigh Valley leaders, including outgoing Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, state Rep. Josh Siegel and Bethlehem City Council President Michael Colon.
In most recent campaign finance reports McClure lagged behind his opponents in fundraising, bringing in around $87,000 in the second quarter.
Carol Obando-Derstine
Obando-Derstine is a former engineer and regional affairs director for PPL who announced her run for Congress in May with the backing of former Rep. Susan Wild.
Before working for nine years at PPL, she was a regional manager for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and has also been an executive director at local nonprofits including SkillsUSA Council and Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley.
She laid out some of her campaign priorities, which include opposing Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s cuts to social programs and protecting women’s rights to access abortion and reproductive health care.
In addition to Wild, Obando-Derstine has also received endorsements from women’s and Latino political groups including Emily’s List and BOLD PAC. She fundraised $208,573 in the second quarter of 2025.
Ryan Crosswell
Crosswell is an attorney, former Department of Justice prosecutor and Marine Corps veteran who announced his run for the seat in May.
Crosswell made national headlines earlier this year when he resigned as a career Department of Justice prosecutor, a position he had held since May 2020.
In a public letter of resignation, Crosswell wrote that he was directed to dismiss the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams without prejudice, without being given a reason based on the strength of the case. Crosswell wrote that he “cannot work for someone who invokes leadership after forcing dedicated public servants to choose between termination and a dismissal so plainly at odds with core prosecutorial principles.”
He has drawn upon the resignation and his work as a prosecutor in his campaign, and said he would stand up to political corruption and protect social programs if elected to Congress.
He outraised his Democratic opponents in the most recent campaign finance reports, bringing in $320,979 all from individual donations.
Mark Pinsley
Pinsley, Lehigh County’s controller, announced his run for Congress in July.
Pinsley was first elected as Lehigh County controller in 2019 and was reelected in 2023. He previously served as a South Whitehall Township commissioner. He has run unsuccessfully for state Senate twice and lost a bid for state auditor general in last year’s Democratic primary.
He considers himself a “proud progressive Democrat” and has criticized Republicans as well as national Democrats for, in his opinion, failing to adequately oppose Donald Trump’s presidential agenda.
He has not yet published a campaign finance report because he entered the race after the reporting deadline.
Bob Brooks
Bob Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association and a former Bethlehem firefighter, announced his bid for the seat in August.
In a news release, he drew upon his working class background and career in firefighting to make the case that he would advocate for working people if elected.
He received several prominent endorsements from national progressive figures including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. The International Association of Fire Fighters’ president and state director of the Service Employees International Union also have endorsed him.
He has not yet published a campaign finance report because he entered the race after the reporting deadline.
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.
