Democrat Susan Wild Calls for Campaign Reinvention Post-2024 Loss
TL/DR –
U.S. Representative Susan Wild will leave office after three terms, losing a closely contested race in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District to Republican state Representative Ryan Mackenzie. Wild’s campaign focused on her constituents and issues affecting them directly, but conceded that the Democratic party spent too much time on issues that did not impact people’s daily lives. Despite raising significantly more campaign funds than Mackenzie, Wild lost by a little over 4,000 votes, with her campaign being one of the most expensive in the election cycle.
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild Exits Congress After Three Terms
The 2018 political climate propelled U.S. Rep. Susan Wild into Congress. However, the same wave now sees her departing office after three terms. Alongside Donald Trump’s re-election, the GOP flipped two of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House seats, including Wild’s in the 7th Congressional District, and ousted U.S. Sen. Bob Casey after an 18-year tenure.
Despite Wild’s race being among the 10 closest congressional races in the nation according to Inside Elections, she lost by slightly over 4,000 votes. This loss occurred despite Wild outspending her Republican opponent, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, by a 5-1 margin.
In one of the most expensive races of the electoral cycle, Wild raised $8.8 million to Mackenzie’s $1.7 million. Super PACs also spent over $27 million to influence the race, with the Congressional Leadership Fund contributing nearly $10 million in opposition to Wild, according to OpenSecrets.org.
Wild believes her loss can be attributed to the Democratic Party’s excessive focus on issues not impacting people’s everyday lives. She acknowledges the party’s neglect of more resonant topics for their constituents, such as the quality of local schools and housing affordability.
Wild stresses the importance of bipartisan cooperation for success in Washington, advancing the idea that for true progress, you must find common ground with those across the aisle and not exclude individuals based on arbitrary reasons.
Looking to the future, Wild expresses intent to continue advocating for the Lehigh Valley and does not rule out another run for the 7th District seat. Although her campaign was frequently focused on her work to provide relief for Americans struggling with the costs of insulin and other prescription drugs, she feels that her most significant achievements lie in the contributions she made to her district office.
In the face of the GOP’s attempted national abortion ban, Wild kept her campaigns focused on more resonant issues such as job creation and the economy. Wild also notes the GOP’s effective use of new media platforms for outreach to younger audiences. She calls for the Democratic Party to diversify its message and adopt a more contemporary approach to campaigning.
Moving forward, Wild underlines the importance of reengaging with minority and working-class communities. To regain support in rural America, she suggests that simply showing up and meeting with the community can have a profound impact.
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