Seven Democrats met to discuss affordability at the town hall. The highly contested seat is currently held by Representative Ryan Mackenzie.
The congressional seat for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District is currently held by Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie.
In the 2024 election, Representative Mackenzie ousted former Representative Susan Wild.
The seat flipped last election cycle by just one percentage point. Democrats are targeting the seat to try to win it back during the upcoming cycle.
The economy and affordability were the main topics of conversation during Monday’s town hall in Center City Allentown. Seven Democratic candidates seeking the nomination were given the opportunity to speak on a variety of topics.
Democratic candidates Bob Brooks, Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine, Mark Pinsley, Aiden Gonzalez, and Lewis Shupe participated in the forum.
“The middle class needs a break, the middle class needs a tax cut,” said candidate Lamont McClure.
“The middle class and the working class is subsidizing the wealthiest Americans’ tax avoidance and all we have to show for it is exploding national debt,” said candidate Ryan Crosswell.
The federal minimum wage was also a topic of conversation during the forum on Monday night.
“We need to raise the federal minimum wage, expand middle class tax cuts, rollback giveaways for billionaires,” said Carol Obando-Derstine.
“The first thing for affordable housing, increased minimum wage, the second thing is sure, let’s build some supply, I think that is important,” said Mark Pinsley during the town hall.
Candidates also spoke on public transportation and how to improve the infrastructure in the Lehigh Valley with federal resources.
“We should have more federal funding for metro areas to use public transportation,” said Aiden Gonzales.
“Why can’t we bring rail here to the Lehigh Valley? This is something I would go for in addition to more LANTA funding,” said Lou Shupe on the topic.
Mackenzie is currently the only Republican running for the seat to serve Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. The race will be closely watched as one of the most contended in the country, with Republicans aiming to hold onto the seat and Democrats attempting to flip it back as part of a broader effort to gain control of the House of Representatives.
Mackenzie is serving in his first term.
