Ryan Mackenzie

Ryan Mackenzie
Born	Ryan Edward Mackenzie 3 8, 1982
Birthplace	Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district
Education	New York University (BS) Harvard University (MBA)
Spouse(s)	Chloe Mackenzie
Children	1

Ryan Edward Mackenzie (born August 3, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Mackenzie spent over a decade in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before winning election to Congress in 2024, defeating incumbent Democrat Susan Wild in one of the most closely watched House races in the country. Mackenzie first entered the Pennsylvania House in 2012 through a special election, succeeding Doug Reichley in the 134th district. He later represented the 187th district following redistricting in 2022. During his tenure in the state legislature, Mackenzie and his mother, Milou Mackenzie, who represents the 131st district, made history as the first mother-son pair to simultaneously serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Early Life

Ryan Edward Mackenzie was born on August 3, 1982, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, an area that would later form the core of both his state legislative district and his congressional district. His mother, Milou Mackenzie, is also a Republican politician who serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 131st district in the Lehigh Valley area. The family's deep roots in the Lehigh Valley and involvement in public life shaped Mackenzie's early interest in government and policy.

Education

Mackenzie pursued his undergraduate education at New York University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He later attended Harvard University, where he obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His educational background combined business training with what would become a career in public service, and his Harvard MBA distinguished him among Pennsylvania state legislators. Mackenzie has cited his business education as informing his approach to fiscal policy and economic issues during his time in both the state legislature and Congress.

Career

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Entry into State Politics

Mackenzie entered the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on May 8, 2012, winning a special election to fill the seat vacated by Doug Reichley in the 134th district. The 134th district encompassed portions of the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania. Mackenzie was subsequently re-elected to the seat in the general elections that followed, establishing himself as a consistent presence in the district.

During his time in the Pennsylvania House, Mackenzie served on various committees and engaged in legislative work focused on economic and fiscal issues. He represented the 134th district from 2012 through 2022, a period of over a decade during which he built name recognition and a legislative record in the Lehigh Valley region.

International Relations Caucus

During his tenure in the state House, Mackenzie was involved in launching the International Relations Caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The caucus was designed to address issues related to international relations and their impact on Pennsylvania's economy and communities. This initiative reflected Mackenzie's interest in economic policy beyond the state level and foreshadowed his later pursuit of a seat in the U.S. Congress.

Mother-Son Legislative Pair

A notable aspect of Mackenzie's state legislative career was his simultaneous service with his mother, Milou Mackenzie, who represents the 131st district in the Pennsylvania House. The two became the first mother-son pair to serve concurrently in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, a distinction that drew media attention and highlighted the family's deep involvement in Lehigh Valley politics.

Redistricting and the 187th District

Following the redistricting process that took effect after the 2020 census, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld new state legislative maps in March 2022, triggering significant changes to district boundaries across the commonwealth. As a result of the new maps, Mackenzie was moved from the 134th district to the 187th district for his final term in the state legislature, which ran from 2023 to 2024. He continued to serve constituents in the Lehigh Valley area under the redrawn boundaries. Gary Day succeeded Mackenzie in the state House following his departure to Congress in late 2024.

Congressional Campaigns

Early Congressional Aspirations

Mackenzie's ambition to serve in the U.S. Congress became apparent well before his successful 2024 campaign. In September 2017, following the announcement by U.S. Representative Charlie Dent that he would not seek re-election, Mackenzie was among those considering a run for the congressional seat. Mackenzie formally entered the race but withdrew from the congressional contest in March 2018.

2022 Congressional Bid

In November 2021, Mackenzie filed to run for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district seat, signaling a renewed effort to move to the federal level. However, the redistricting process and the subsequent upheaval in Pennsylvania's political map complicated the 2022 cycle. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's rejection of challenges to the new maps in March 2022 set the stage for a compressed and intense election season. Mackenzie did not ultimately win the Republican nomination for the 7th district in the 2022 cycle.

2024 Congressional Campaign

Mackenzie announced his candidacy for the 7th congressional district seat once again ahead of the 2024 election cycle. The 7th district, centered on the Lehigh Valley, was considered one of the most competitive congressional districts in Pennsylvania and nationally. Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild had held the seat since 2018 and was seeking re-election in what was expected to be a closely contested race.

During the Republican primary, three candidates sought the party's nomination for the 7th district seat. Mackenzie participated in debates with his Republican opponents, where the candidates focused on policy discussions. Mackenzie secured the Republican nomination and advanced to the general election.

In the November 2024 general election, Mackenzie defeated incumbent Democrat Susan Wild to win the seat representing Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. The race was one of several competitive House contests across Pennsylvania that attracted national attention during the 2024 election cycle. Official election results were certified by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

U.S. House of Representatives

Mackenzie took office as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district on January 3, 2025, succeeding Susan Wild. He was among the new members of the 119th United States Congress. As a freshman member of the Republican caucus in the House, Mackenzie joined a chamber in which the Republican Party held a narrow majority.

Mackenzie's congressional tenure began with his swearing-in during the opening session of the 119th Congress. His appearances and activities in Congress have been documented through C-SPAN coverage.

Personal Life

Mackenzie resides in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania with his wife, Chloe Mackenzie, and their child. He has maintained his connections to the Lehigh Valley throughout his political career, having been born in Allentown and represented districts in the region during his entire time in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. His mother, Milou Mackenzie, continues to serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as the representative for the 131st district, maintaining the family's presence in state-level politics even as Mackenzie moved to the federal level.

Electoral History

Mackenzie's electoral record reflects his long tenure in Pennsylvania politics. He first won a special election on May 8, 2012, to enter the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, succeeding Doug Reichley in the 134th district. He was subsequently re-elected in multiple general elections throughout his tenure in the state House.

In the general elections for his state House seat, Mackenzie's results were recorded by the Pennsylvania Department of State's election returns system.

His most prominent electoral victory came in November 2024, when he defeated incumbent Democrat Susan Wild in the race for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. The 7th district race was closely watched at the national level as one of the competitive seats that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.