Ryan Mackenzie Explained

Ryan Mackenzie
State:Pennsylvania
Term Start:January 3, 2025
Succeeding:Susan Wild
Office1:Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Constituency1:134th district (2012-2022)
187th district (2023-2024)
Term Start1:May 8, 2012
Term End1:November 30, 2024
Predecessor1:Doug Reichley
Successor1:Gary Day (elect)
Birth Date:3 August 1982
Birth Place:Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Mother:Milou Mackenzie
Father:Charles Mackenzie
Party:Republican
Education:New York University (BS)
Harvard University (MBA)

Ryan Edward Mackenzie (born August 3, 1982) is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative-elect from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2012 to 2024. Before redistricting, he represented the 134th district until his final term, when he was moved to the 187th district.[1] [2]

His mother is Milou Mackenzie, who is also a Lehigh Valley-area Republican state representative, in the 131st district. They were the first mother-son pair to simultaneously serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[3]

Mackenzie was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district in 2024, defeating incumbent Susan Wild.[4]

Early life and education

Mackenzie was born on August 3, 1982, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles and Milou Mackenzie. He graduated from Parkland High School in 2000 and from New York University with a degree in finance and international business in 2004. He obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2010.[5]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

In 2012, Mackenzie was elected to represent District 134 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. After redistricting, he ran for and won the District 187 seat in 2022.

In 2020, Mackenzie was among more than 60 House Republicans who urged Congress to reject and decertify Pennsylvania's electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.[6] [7]

During the 2023-24 legislative session, Mackenzie is the Republican chair of the Labor and Industry Committee. He also serves as co-chair of the International Relations Caucus.[8] Mackenzie previously served as majority chair of the House Government Oversight Committee, deputy majority whip, deputy chair of the House Majority Policy Committee, vice chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee, chair of the Financial Services and Banking Subcommittee with the House Commerce Committee, and chair of the Workforce Development Subcommittee with the Economic Recovery Task Force.[9] He has said that his top priorities include "creating jobs, protecting taxpayers, strengthening education, and reforming government".[10]

U.S. House campaigns

2018

In 2017, Mackenzie announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district in 2018.[11] He withdrew from the race in March 2018 when the state Supreme Court created new district lines.[12]

2022

In 2021, Mackenzie briefly ran for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district.[13] He withdrew from the race, instead opting to run for reelection to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[14]

2024

In July 2023, Mackenzie again announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, this time for the 2024 election.[15] During his campaign, he called the issue of immigration a "top priority." Mackenzie also voiced support for the Israeli military campaign against Hamas, but opposed further aid to Ukraine amid the continuing Russian invasion.[16]

On April 23, 2024, Mackenzie won the Republican nomination for the seat, defeating Kevin Dellicker (who also ran in 2022) and Maria Montero.[17] In the general election, Mackenzie defeated incumbent Democrat Susan Wild.[4]

Electoral history

[18]

External links

official caucus site

official PA House site

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Representative Ryan E. Mackenzie's Biography. Project Vote Smart. November 22, 2012.
  2. Web site: Ryan E. Mackenzie. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. November 22, 2012.
  3. Web site: Lehigh Valley Legislators Become First Mother-Son Duo to Serve in the PA House of Representatives . PA State. Rep Ryan Mackenzie . November 12, 2023.
  4. Web site: Weber . Lindsay . Pelekis . Andreas . 2024 Lehigh Valley Congress election results: Susan Wild concedes to Ryan Mackenzie . . November 6, 2024.
  5. Web site: Ryan E. Mackenzie . May 5, 2024 . Official Website - PA House Archives.
  6. News: Stemrich . Ben . Pa. Republican Lawmakers Haven't Given Up Blocking Biden . 3 September 2024 . PBS39 . December 9, 2020.
  7. News: Roth . Fallon . Meet Ryan Mackenzie and Rob Bresnahan Jr., Pennsylvania’s two new GOP members of Congress . 17 November 2024 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . November 13, 2024.
  8. Web site: International Relations Caucus Launched in Pennsylvania House of Representatives . May 18, 2024 . Official Website - PA House Archives.
  9. Web site: Representative Ryan E. Mackenzie . Pennsylvania General Assembly . August 10, 2023 . English.
  10. Web site: Meet Ryan Mackenzie . Pennsylvania General Assembly . May 18, 2024 . English.
  11. Web site: Pennsylvania state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie runs to replace Congressman Charlie Dent.
  12. News: Brelje . Beth . State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie quits Congressional race . August 10, 2023 . Reading Eagle . March 3, 2018.
  13. News: State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie files to run for 7th Congressional seat in 2022 . March 22, 2024 . The Morning Call . November 19, 2021.
  14. News: Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects challenges to new House and Senate maps, triggering launch of short, intense election season . May 18, 2024 . The Morning Call . March 16, 2022.
  15. News: Ulrich . Steve . Ryan Mackenzie Announces Candidacy For PA-07 Seat . August 10, 2023 . Politics PA . July 31, 2023.
  16. News: Ulrich . Steve . PA-07: Lehigh Valley GOP Congressional Hopefuls Focus on Policy in Debates . March 10, 2024 . PoliticsPA . March 6, 2024.
  17. News: Weber . Lindsay . Ryan Mackenzie wins GOP primary for Congress in 7th District; will face Democratic Rep. Susan Wild in November . May 12, 2024 . The Morning Call . April 23, 2024.
  18. Web site: Ryan Mackenzie. May 12, 2024. Ballotpedia. en.