Susan Wild

Susan Wild
Born	Susan Ellis 7 6, 1957
Birthplace	Wiesbaden Air Force Base, West Germany
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district (2018–2025); first woman to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress
Education	George Washington University (JD)
Children	2
Awards	ATHENA Award (2025)
Website	[https://wild.house.gov/ Official site]

Susan Wild (née Ellis; born June 7, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district from 2019 to 2025, and briefly for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district during the final months of 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, Wild made history as the first woman to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress. Born at a U.S. Air Force base in West Germany, Wild built a legal career spanning more than three decades before entering politics. She served as solicitor for the city of Allentown before launching her congressional campaign in 2017. During her time in Congress, Wild co-chaired the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force, served as vice chair of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, and held the chairmanship and later the ranking membership of the House Ethics Committee. She was narrowly defeated by Republican Ryan Mackenzie in the 2024 election and announced in April 2025 that she would not seek to return to Congress in 2026.

Early Life

Susan Ellis was born on June 7, 1957, at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in West Germany, where her father was stationed as a member of the United States Air Force. As the daughter of a military family, she spent portions of her childhood moving between different locations before settling in the United States. Details of her early upbringing reflect the transient nature of military life common to families stationed overseas during the Cold War era.

Wild eventually made her home in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, a community she would come to represent in Congress decades later. The Lehigh Valley, which includes the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, became the center of both her legal career and her political life.

Education

Wild earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from American University in Washington, D.C. She subsequently attended the George Washington University Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Wild has credited her time at George Washington University Law School with inspiring her interest in public service and government. Her legal education provided the foundation for a career in law that would span more than thirty years in private practice and municipal government before she entered electoral politics.

Career

Legal Career

After completing her law degree, Wild practiced law in the Lehigh Valley for more than three decades. Her legal career encompassed work in private practice, where she developed expertise in areas relevant to municipal and civil law.

In January 2015, Wild was appointed as the solicitor for the city of Allentown by the Allentown City Council. As solicitor, Wild served as the chief legal advisor to the city government. She held this position until November 2017, when she resigned to pursue a run for Congress.

2018 Congressional Campaign

Wild announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district in October 2017, seeking to succeed longtime Republican incumbent Charlie Dent, who had announced he would not seek reelection. Dent subsequently resigned from Congress in May 2018, creating the need for both a special election to fill the remainder of his term and a regular election for the newly redrawn 7th congressional district, which encompassed much of the same Lehigh Valley territory following Pennsylvania's court-ordered redistricting.

In the May 2018 Democratic primary, Wild emerged victorious from a competitive field of candidates, securing the party's nomination for the 7th congressional district. Her campaign emphasized her legal experience, municipal government service, and ties to the Lehigh Valley community. As both a candidate for the new 7th district and for the special election in the 15th district, Wild faced a demanding dual campaign schedule in the general election.

Special Election and 2018 General Election

On November 6, 2018, Wild won both the special election for the 15th congressional district and the general election for the 7th congressional district. Her special election victory allowed her to be sworn into the 115th Congress before the end of 2018, giving her a seniority advantage over other newly elected members of the incoming 116th Congress.

Wild was officially certified as the winner of the special election on November 27, 2018, and took office immediately to serve out the remaining weeks of Dent's term in the 15th district. She then began her full term representing the 7th congressional district on January 3, 2019, with the convening of the 116th Congress. With her election, Wild became the first woman to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress.

Congressional Tenure

During her time in Congress, Wild represented a district that encompassed the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, including the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Bangor. The district was considered a competitive swing district, and Wild's elections were closely watched as bellwethers for broader political trends.

Wild assumed several leadership roles during her congressional tenure. She co-chaired the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force, reflecting her interest in environmental policy. She also served as vice chair of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, focusing on worker protections and labor issues, and as vice chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, which dealt with foreign affairs matters.

In September 2022, Wild was appointed chair of the House Ethics Committee, succeeding Ted Deutch. After the Republican Party regained the House majority following the 2022 midterm elections, Wild transitioned to the role of ranking member of the Ethics Committee beginning January 3, 2023, a position she held until the end of her congressional service in January 2025.

Wild was active in seeking federal funding for projects in her district. She submitted 15 projects for federal infrastructure financing during her tenure, reflecting her focus on directing resources to the Lehigh Valley.

2024 Election and Defeat

In the 2024 general election, Wild faced Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The race was closely contested, consistent with the competitive nature of the 7th congressional district. Wild was narrowly defeated by Mackenzie, ending her six years in Congress.

In the aftermath of her defeat, Wild reflected publicly on the experience. In a December 2024 interview with the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, she stated that Democrats needed to "reinvent how we campaign" and did not initially rule out a future run for office. However, in April 2025, Wild announced definitively that she would not seek to run for Congress again in 2026.

Post-Congressional Activities

After leaving Congress, Wild remained active in public life in the Lehigh Valley. In January 2026, it was announced that she would deliver an address on President Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy as part of a lecture series, drawing on her experience on the foreign affairs subcommittee during her time in Congress.

Wild also participated in discussions about the future of her former congressional district alongside her predecessor Charlie Dent. In early 2026, both former representatives appeared together on a local political program to discuss their experiences representing Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district.

While declining to run herself, Wild endorsed Democrat Carol Obando-Derstine in the 2026 race to challenge Mackenzie for the 7th district seat.

Wild has also spoken publicly about the loss of federal infrastructure funding that had been earmarked for projects in the Lehigh Valley. In December 2025, she attributed the elimination of 15 federally financed projects she had submitted to the actions of her Republican successor.

Personal Life

Susan Wild has two children. She was in a partnership with Kerry Acker from 2003 until his death in 2019. Wild has spoken publicly about mental health issues, including in the context of legislation related to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wild resides in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, where she has maintained her community ties following her departure from Congress.

Recognition

In October 2025, Wild was honored with an ATHENA Award at a ceremony held at ArtsQuest in the Lehigh Valley. The ATHENA Awards recognize individuals for leadership, mentorship, and empowerment, particularly of women in business and the community. Wild was among the honorees at the 2025 ceremony alongside other women business leaders from the region.

Wild's distinction as the first woman to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress was noted upon her election in 2018 and has remained a prominent element of her public profile.

Legacy

Susan Wild's congressional career is notable for several reasons within the political history of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Her 2018 election marked the first time a woman represented the region in Congress, a milestone in a district with a long history of male representation. She held the seat for three terms before her narrow 2024 defeat.

Wild's tenure coincided with a period of significant political competitiveness in eastern Pennsylvania's suburban and exurban districts. The 7th congressional district, as redrawn after the 2018 court-ordered redistricting in Pennsylvania, became one of the most closely watched swing districts in the nation. Wild's ability to win and hold the seat through multiple election cycles reflected the district's shifting political dynamics.

Her service as chair and ranking member of the House Ethics Committee placed her in a prominent institutional role within the House of Representatives. The Ethics Committee occupies a unique position in Congress, as it is the body responsible for investigating and adjudicating allegations of misconduct by House members, and leadership of the committee requires navigating sensitive bipartisan dynamics.

Following her departure from Congress, Wild's continued engagement in Lehigh Valley civic life — through public lectures, political endorsements, and community recognition — has maintained her profile as a figure in the region's public affairs.