BETHLEHEM, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Susan Wild stocked her campaign war chest over the last three months, building a $3.5 million advantage over Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie.
Campaign filings with the Federal Elections Commission show Wild, the three-term Democratic incumbent, raised $1.2 million since April 1.
After spending more than $329,000 on polling, direct mailers and other expenses, Wild's political action committee has $3.8 million in the bank for the final four months of the race.
Wild's 1,199-page filing lists thousands of donors from across the country as she tries to retain Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, one of the nation's most heavily contested congressional seats.
Some of her more prominent local backers from the second quarter include ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks, developer J.B. Reilly and Maria Rodale, chief executive officer of publisher Rodale Inc.
Among political action committees this quarter, Wild received support from the J Street PAC (more than $26,100 this cycle) and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Political Action Committee (more than $25,400 this cycle), two pro-Israel advocacy groups.
Also, the DigiDems PAC ($17,700 this cycle), which supports Democrats running in competitive districts; and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund ($7,500 this cycle).
Conservative super PAC support
By comparison, Mackenzie raised nearly $240,000 in the past three months, though about $25,000 of that was transferred from a different Mackenzie political action committee.
After spending about $155,500 since April, Mackenzie's campaign has about $365,500 in the bank, according to his campaign finance report.
Through the primary, Mackenzie's campaign was bolstered by the Americans For Prosperity Action.
The conservative super PAC funneled nearly $498,000 into his campaign through the end of April, helping him fend off Kevin Dellicker and Maria Montero for the Republican nomination, campaign finance reports show.
While AFP Action has not yet filed its campaign finance report for the month of June, the May filings showed it did not contribute to Mackenzie.
Mackenzie's 142-page filing show his financial backers include Joe Topper, a developer and Reilly's business partner, as well as a board member of LehighValleyNews.com's parent, Lehigh Valley Public Media; Greg Butz, president of Alvin H. Butz construction; and David Jaindl, owner of Jaindl Farms.
Political action committees who donated to his campaign this quarter include American Revival PAC ($10,000 this cycle), a group formed by former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; the Associated Builders and Contractors PAC ($10,000 this cycle); and First in Freedom PAC ($7,500), a leadership PAC associated with U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C.
A competitive district
PA-7 represents Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties plus a sliver of Monroe County. Registration among Democratic and Republican voters are nearly even, making it one of the most competitive districts in the nation.
In 2022, the candidates and their supporters spent $34.5 million on the campaigns for the district — the sixth-highest in the country, according to OpenSecrets.com.
Both parties have vowed to contribute major funding to the race again this year. So far, PA-7 is among three Pennsylvania districts where candidates have raised more than $6 million.
The other swing districts are PA-1, where Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick will face Ashley Ehasz, and PA-8, where Democratic incumbent Matthew Cartwright is being challenged by Republican Rob Bresnahan.
