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We Need to Reinvent How We Campaign,’ Democrat Susan Wild Reflects on 2024 Loss

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat who was unseated in 2024 after three terms, shared her thoughts on what went wrong in her tight race for Pennsylvania’s 7th District, calling for a complete overhaul of how political campaigns are run.

Despite outspending her opponent, Republican Ryan Mackenzie, by five-to-one and raising a significant $8.8 million, Wild lost by just over 4,000 votes in one of the closest and most expensive congressional races in the nation. With her defeat marking the end of the 2018 blue wave, Wild took time to reflect on the mistakes her campaign, and the broader Democratic Party, made in the 2024 elections.

Campaign Strategy: Money Isn’t Everything

In the high-stakes 2024 election cycle, Wild’s loss raises key questions about the effectiveness of money in politics. Despite spending millions to outfund her opponent, the race was heavily influenced by outside groups with massive financial backing. Third-party groups, including the Congressional Leadership Fund, poured in over $27 million to oppose Wild, making it clear that traditional fundraising strategies were no longer enough.

“For me, the focus was on keeping my campaign grounded in the issues that directly affect my constituents,” Wild shared. “But at some point, you wonder, ‘Is raising more money really the solution?’ When a super PAC spends more than your entire campaign, it becomes a frustrating realization that money alone doesn’t always guarantee victory.”

Muhlenberg University 2024

Even with the overwhelming financial disadvantage, Wild expressed that she didn’t believe the problem was a lack of fundraising. “I don’t look back and think, ‘If only I spent more time on call time.’ That’s not where we fell short,” she added.

This sentiment reflects a larger frustration with the current state of campaign fundraising. It’s a reminder that no matter how much money a candidate raises, external factors and the power of outside groups can drastically shift the outcome of an election.

A Changing Political Landscape

Wild’s loss also highlights a broader shift in the political landscape of Pennsylvania. The state’s redistricting after the 2020 Census had a significant impact on her re-election bid. As Chris Borick, a Muhlenberg College pollster, pointed out, the redrawn district now included parts of Carbon County, an area deeply entrenched in red conservative politics.

The political-economic climate also played a critical role in Wild’s defeat, with Wild acknowledging that the broader mood in Pennsylvania made it difficult for Democrats to secure victories in key races. In a state where former President Donald Trump’s influence remains strong, Wild’s district, once favorable for Democrats, became a harder sell.

“Her path to reelection became much more difficult,” Borick said. “The addition of conservative counties, coupled with national economic trends, gave her an uphill battle.” Wild’s victories in past elections, including her success in 2022, seemed less significant as the political tide turned against Democrats in 2024.

The Influence of Young Voters and Trump’s Enduring Appeal

While Wild remains candid about the challenges her campaign faced, she also recognized that the GOP’s ability to mobilize young, MAGA-supporting voters worked against her. Many of these voters, who had previously been less engaged, turned out in large numbers to support Mackenzie and, indirectly, Trump.

“I did have an advantage with voters who didn’t support Bob Casey or Kamala Harris but still supported me,” Wild said. “However, the GOP really worked hard to register young voters—those who supported Trump—and they showed up. It was enough to make the difference.”

In addition to the district’s redrawing, Wild acknowledged that Mackenzie’s connection to Trump played a key role in his success. “He had the benefit of being on the same ballot as Trump, and that worked in his favor,” Wild said. “There’s no secret sauce to it. He simply had good fortune.”

The Frustration of Running for Office

For Wild, the most frustrating aspect of being a public servant wasn’t the attacks from political opponents or the challenges posed by gerrymandered districts. Instead, it was the endless campaigning that often takes precedence over actual legislative work.

“Running for office is the most frustrating part of being in Congress,” Wild explained. “It’s not the attack ads, it’s not the gerrymandering—it’s that campaigning eats up so much time that could otherwise be spent doing meaningful legislative work for the people.”

As campaigns grow longer and more expensive, many legislators find that their time in office is increasingly consumed by the pursuit of re-election, rather than the tasks they were elected to accomplish. For Wild, this is a critical issue in American politics, and one she believes needs urgent attention.

Where Does the Democratic Party Go From Here?

Susan Wild’s reflections on her 2024 loss aren’t just about her own campaign; they offer valuable insights into the challenges facing the broader Democratic Party in the current political climate. The message is clear: the old ways of campaigning are no longer enough.

Democrats, according to Wild, need to focus on issues that directly affect people’s daily lives. “We spent too much time on things that weren’t connecting with regular folks,” she said. The lessons from Wild’s defeat are ones that could shape how campaigns are run in future elections, not just in Pennsylvania but across the nation.

The question now is whether the party will heed these lessons and adjust its strategies moving forward. For Wild, the time to reinvent political campaigning is now.

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