BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley abandoned his campaign for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District on Wednesday, saying he will instead focus on a third run for state Senate.
In a video post, Pinsley said he was shifting his goals to Pennsylvania's 16th Senate District after reviewing his campaign funds in the congressional race. His latest campaign finance report showed Pinsley's campaign lost money over the last three months of 2025. His $50,017 on hand ranked last among the six PA-7 candidates who filed detailed end-of-year reports.
"The opportunity in Pennsylvania is real. For the first time in more than 30 years, Democrats could hold a trifecta in Harrisburg, giving Gov. Shapiro the ability to move forward without obstruction from Senate Republicans who have refused to raise the minimum wage and tax wealthy corporations fairly," Pinsley said.
LehighValleyNews.com reported Tuesday that Pinsley was circulating nomination petitions for both the congressional seat and the 16th District. He is the fourth Democrat to enter that race. The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to challenge Republican incumbent Sen. Jarrett Coleman. Republicans make up more than 46% of registered voters in the district, giving conservatives an advantage. Registered Democrats, by comparison, comprise a little under 35% of voters.
Tuesday marked the official start of the 2026 campaign cycle as candidates and their campaigns were allowed to start circulating nomination petitions. In an interview Wednesday, Pinsley said he was not in a position to formally end his congressional campaign Tuesday, leading some of his volunteers to circulate petitions for his congressional race.
"I wish this didn't happen the way it happened," he said.
In the video, Pinsley touted his ability to beat Republicans and take on billion-dollar corporations among his credentials for the state Senate race. He would look to regulate artificial intelligence, address rising electric costs and school taxes and protect Pennsylvanians' health insurance if elected, he said.
"I would have been honored to fight for you in Washington. But my practical experience may be of greater use to you in Harrisburg," he said in the video.
Pinsley is a two-term controller who has aggressively campaigned for other offices; the state Senate race is his eighth in the past 10 years. He first ran for state Senate in 2018 but narrowly lost to then-incumbent Pat Browne. He later lost to Coleman in 2022 after redistricting gave Republicans a steep advantage.
Pinsley pointed to strong Democratic victories in recent elections in Pennsylvania and across the country as proof that the 16th District can be flipped. In the normally competitive executive races in Lehigh and Northampton counties last year, Democrats Josh Siegel and Tara Zrinski achieved landmark victories.
"It's a different day, and I think we have this opportunity," Pinsley said, pointing to growing engagement from suburban voters. "I have a high degree of confidence. I believe I can win this race."
Pinsley, of South Whitehall Township, said he does not intend to endorse any candidate in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional race, saying he will support whoever emerges from the primary. Remaining candidates include firefighter union boss Bob Brooks, former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell, political newcomer Aiden Gonzalez, former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, energy engineer Carol Obando-Derstine and perennial candidate Lou Shupe.
The winner is expected to face Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, which represents Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties plus a sliver of Monroe County, is one of the most contested political battlegrounds in the nation.
The 16th state Senate District covers the western and southern portions of Lehigh County and the north half of Bucks County. Other Democratic challengers include Nowhere Coffee owner Juan Vargas, Richlandtown Mayor Wayne Codner and Pennridge School Board Director Bradley Merkl-Gump.
