Jump to content

Susan Wild

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Susan Wild
Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee
In office
January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded byMichael Guest
Succeeded byMark DeSaulnier
Chair of the House Ethics Committee
In office
September 30, 2022 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byTed Deutch
Succeeded byMichael Guest
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
In office
November 27, 2018 – January 3, 2025
Preceded byCharlie Dent
Succeeded byRyan Mackenzie
Constituency15th district (2018–2019)
7th district (2019–2025)
Personal details
Born
Susan Ellis

(1957-06-07) June 7, 1957 (age 67)
Wiesbaden Air Force Base, West Germany (now Germany)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Russell Wild
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 2002)​
Domestic partnerKerry Acker (2003–2019)
Children2
EducationAmerican University (BA)
George Washington University (JD)
WebsiteHouse website
Wild's voice
Wild on a bill about mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recorded July 19, 2022.

Susan Wild (née Ellis; born June 7, 1957) is an American lawyer and former politician from Pennsylvania. A Democrat, she represented Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 2018 to January 2025. The district is in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, and includes Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Bangor.

Wild spent the last two months of 2018 as the member for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district after Charlie Dent, former U.S. representative for the district, resigned in 2018. She co-chaired the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force and was vice chair of both the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus and the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. She as the first woman to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress.[1] In the 2024 general election, Wild was defeated by Republican Ryan Mackenzie.[2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Wild was born June 7, 1957 in West Germany, the daughter of Norman Leith, a member of the U.S. Air Force, and Susan Stimus Ellis, a journalist.[3] Her mother was a journalist. Wild was born on Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Hesse, West Germany, where her father was then stationed. She also lived in France, California, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C.[4]

Career

[edit]

In 1976, Wild volunteered to work for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign.[4] She attended American University, where she graduated in 1978.[5] She earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School in 1982,[6] where she studied under John Banzhaf.[4]

In 1999, Wild became a partner at the law firm Gross McGinley.[7]

In 2013, Wild ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.[8] In 2015, she was appointed solicitor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the first woman to hold the position.[9][10]

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

2018 election

[edit]
See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 7

On December 31, 2017, Wild resigned as county commissioner to campaign to succeed retiring U.S. representative Charlie Dent, a Republican, in the U.S. House of Represenatives in November 2018[11] in Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district, which had been represented by a Republican by seven terms. She won the six-candidate Democratic Party primar, with 33% of the vote, narrowly defeating Northampton County district attorney John Morganelli. In the 2018 general election, she defeated Republican Lehigh County county commissioner Marty Nothstein, winning 54.5% of the vote to Nothstein's 43.5%.[12][13][14][15]

2018 special election

[edit]
See also: 2018 Pennsylvania's 7th and 15th congressional district special elections § District 15

On the same day, Wild also ran in a separate special election for the balance of the term of Dent, who resigned in May 2018 after announcing he would not run for reelection,[16][17] winning the 15th congressional district's special election with 130,353 votes to Nothstein's 129,593.[18][19]

There was a closer margin in the special election largely because the former 15th district, which was thrown out by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in February 2018, stretched from the Lehigh Valley into heavier Republican regions of the state between Lebanon and Harrisburg, by way of a tendril in Berks County. The new 7th district is a more compact district centered in the Lehigh Valley, and including a sliver of the Poconos.[citation needed]

2020 election

[edit]
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 7

Wild ran for reelection to a second term. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary[20] and faced former Lehigh County commissioner Lisa Scheller[21] in the general election. Wild defeated Scheller with 51.9% of the vote, less than was expected.[22]

2022 election

[edit]
See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 7

Following the 2020 census, Wild was redistricted into a more competitive congressional seat. She was criticized by some district residents when she said of her new district, "Carbon County has many attributes, but it is a county that—although it was once an Obama county—it since has become a Trump county. I'm not quite sure what was in their heads because the people of Carbon County are exactly the kind of people who should not be voting for a Donald Trump, but I guess I might have to school them on that a little bit. But most of all, it is a very rural county."[23]

In a rematch of the 2020 election, Wild narrowly defeated Scheller by 51% to 49%.[24]

2024 election

[edit]
See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 7

Wild ran for reelection in 2024, and was defeated by Republican Ryan Mackenzie, a Pennsylvania State Representative.[25][2]

Following her defeat in the 2024 election, Wild was traced as the source of House Committee on Ethics media leaks related to the committee's investigation of former U.S. representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL). "Any leaks from members and staff are a violation of the committee’s rules: Individuals on the panel take an oath swearing they will not disclose unauthorized information," The Hill reported in covering the leaks.[26]

Tenure

[edit]
Wild speaking with media in Allentown
Wild (right) visiting Lehigh Heavy Forge with then U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh

In March 2021, Wild co-sponsored a resolution to expel U.S. representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress, saying that Greene "advocated violence against our peers, the Speaker and our government".[27]

As of November 2022, Wild had voted in line with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.[28] In the 117th Congress, Wild voted with House speaker Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time.[29]

Elder policy

[edit]

In March 2020, Wild co-sponsored a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act for five years with a 35% increase in funding, which then President Donald Trump signed into law in March.[30]

Firearms

[edit]

In July 2022, Wild voted for H.R. 1808: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, a bill that would have banned various guns, including AR-15s.[31][32]

Foreign affairs

[edit]

Wild was critical of Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro, which she characterized as "far-right", "misogynistic", "homophobic" and "anti-immigrant". In March 2019, she and 29 other Democratic lawmakers wrote a letter to U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo, which read in part, "Since the election of far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro as president, we have been particularly alarmed by the threat Bolsonaro's agenda poses to the LGBTQ+ community and other minority communities, women, labor activists, and political dissidents in Brazil. We are deeply concerned that, by targeting hard-won political and social rights, Bolsonaro is endangering Brazil's long-term democratic future."[33]

In 2023, Wild voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[34][35]

In February 2023, Wild signed a letter urging President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.[36]

Healthcare

[edit]

On January 31, 2023, Wild voted against H.R.497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill that would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.[37][38] The following day, on February 1, 2023, Wild voted against a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.[39][40]

Immigration

[edit]

In 2019, Wild voted against allowing victims of crimes by illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities to report the incident to the Department of Homeland Security.[41] On February 9, 2023, Wild also voted against H.J. Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 which condemns the District of Columbia's plan that would allow noncitizen voting in local elections.[42][better source needed][43]

Impeachment of Donald Trump

[edit]

Wild voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.[44]

Committee assignments

[edit]

Caucus memberships

[edit]

Electoral history

[edit]
Democratic primary results (2018)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Wild 15,001 33.3
Democratic John Morganelli 13,565 30.1
Democratic Greg Edwards 11,510 25.6
Democratic Roger Ruggles 2,443 5.4
Democratic Rick Daugherty 1,718 3.8
Democratic David Clark 766 1.7
Total votes 45,003 100.0
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Wild 140,813 53.5
Republican Marty Nothstein 114,437 43.5
Libertarian Tim Silfies 8,011 3.0
Total votes 263,261 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
[54]
Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district, 2018 (special)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Susan Wild 130,353 48.54% +10.52%
Republican Marty Nothstein 129,594 48.26% −10.13%
Libertarian Tim Silfies 8,579 3.19% −0.40%
Total votes 268,526 100.0% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican
Democratic primary results (2020)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Wild 76,878 100
Total votes 76,878 100.0
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Wild 195,713 51.9
Republican Lisa Scheller 181,569 48.1
Total votes 377,282 100.0
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Wild 151,364 51.0
Republican Lisa Scheller 145,527 49.0
Total votes 296,891 100.0
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Mackenzie 203,688 50.5%
Democratic Susan Wild 199,626 49.5%
Total votes 403,314 100.0

Personal life

[edit]

Wild married Russell Wild in 1981. They divorced in 2003 after 22 years of marriage. They have two adult children. Following her divorce, Wild reunited with Kerry Acker, who remained her life partner until his death by suicide on May 25, 2019.[55] She lives in South Whitehall Township, located west of Allentown.[4] She is Jewish.[56]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Susan Wild wins PA-7; Lehigh Valley sending region's first woman to Congress". The Morning Call. November 7, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Weber, Lindsay; Pelekis, Andreas. "2024 Lehigh Valley Congress election results: Susan Wild concedes to Ryan Mackenzie". The Morning Call. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "Susan Stimus Ellis". Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Five things you probably don't know about the Lehigh Valley's first congresswoman – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Veitch, Abbie (February 21, 2018). "Alumna Susan Wild runs for Pennsylvania congressional seat". Theeagleonline.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Baskerville, Jessica (March 5, 2018). "Inspired by her classes, law school alumna runs for House seat – The GW Hatchet". Gwhatchet.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  7. ^ "Allentown solicitor plans congressional bid in 15th District – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. November 2, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  8. ^ "Susan Ellis Wild to serve as Allentown's next solicitor – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  9. ^ "Allentown solicitor plans congressional bid in 15th District – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. October 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Sieger, Edward (January 8, 2015). "Allentown City Council appoints new city solicitor". The Express-Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  11. ^ Opilo, Emily (November 22, 2017). "Allentown Solicitor Susan Wild resigning as congressional campaign heats up". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  12. ^ "How Susan Wild went from a relative unknown to PA-7 primary winner – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. May 16, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  13. ^ "Susan Wild claims Lehigh Valley's Democratic primary for Congress". lehighvalleylive.com. May 15, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  14. ^ Ellis, Niv (November 7, 2018). "Democrat Susan Wild wins House race in Pennsylvania". The Hill.
  15. ^ "Pennsylvania Election Results: Seventh House District – Election Results 2018 – The New York Times". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "Marty Nothstein leads in race to finish Charlie Dent's term – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "15th District candidates set for special 2018 election". lehighvalleylive.com. July 31, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  18. ^ "Susan Wild wins special congressional election to finish Charlie Dent's term – The Morning Call". Mcall.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  19. ^ 69 News (June 23, 2016). "Susan Wild announces victory in 15th district special election". WFMZ. Retrieved November 18, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Boockvar, Kathy. "Pennsylvania Elections – Office Results | Representative in Congress". electionreturns.pa.gov. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  21. ^ Radzievich, Nicole; Olson, Laura (October 14, 2019). "Republican Lisa Scheller announces congressional bid for Lehigh Valley based district". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  22. ^ "2020 Presidential Election - Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  23. ^ "Carbon reacts to Wild's remarks about Trump vote | Times News Online".
  24. ^ Hughes, Travis (November 9, 2022). "Pa. Election Results: Rep. Susan Wild Projected Winner vs. Lisa Scheller". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  25. ^ Cole, John. "Susan Wild raises three times as much as challenger Mackenzie in Q2". Penn Capitol Star. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "Susan Wild absent from Ethics Committee meeting after Gaetz leaks to press".
  27. ^ "72 House Democrats Support Resolution to Expel GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene". CBS News. March 19, 2021.
  28. ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  29. ^ "Head to Head: Compare Voting Records".
  30. ^ "President Donald Trump signs bill from Lehigh Valley Rep. Susan Wild boosting funding for Meals on Wheels, other older adult services". The Morning Call. March 26, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  31. ^ "House passes assault-style weapons ban | CNN Politics". CNN. July 29, 2022.
  32. ^ "H.R. 1808: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 -- House Vote #410 -- Jul 29, 2022".
  33. ^ "Brazil's far-right president tweeted out a pornographic video to condemn Carnival". Vox. March 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
  35. ^ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
  36. ^ "Seven more lawmakers — including six Democrats — have signed on to a letter pushing Joe Biden to send F-16 jets to Ukraine". Politico. February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  37. ^ "Seven Democrats join Republicans in vote to lift vaccine mandate for healthcare workers". January 31, 2023.
  38. ^ "On Passage - H.R.497: To eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on". August 12, 2015.
  39. ^ "House passes resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency". February 2023.
  40. ^ "On Passage - H.J.RES.7: Relating to a national emergency declared by". August 12, 2015.
  41. ^ "Here's how Lehigh Valley lawmakers voted this week in Congress".
  42. ^ "House votes to overturn D.C.'s illegal immigrant voting plan". The Washington Times.
  43. ^ "H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia … -- House Vote #118 -- Feb 9, 2023".
  44. ^ "Here's how the House voted on Trump's impeachment". Politico. December 18, 2019.
  45. ^ "About Climate Solutions Caucus". Climate Solutions Caucus. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  46. ^ "Leadership | New Democrat Coalition". newdemocratcoalition.house.gov. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  47. ^ "Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus - Summary from LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  48. ^ "Members". LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  49. ^ "Congressional Ukrainian Caucus - Summary from LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  50. ^ "Caucus Members". Black Maternal Health Caucus. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  51. ^ a b "Committees and Caucuses". Representative Susan Wild. December 13, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  52. ^ "Members". August 19, 2021.
  53. ^ "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  54. ^ Olson, Laura (November 16, 2018). "Susan Wild wins special congressional election to finish Charlie Dent's term". mcall.com. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  55. ^ Kate Sullivan (June 27, 2019). "Rep. Susan Wild reveals partner's recent death was suicide | CNN Politics". CNN.
  56. ^ "Democrat Holds Slim Lead In Jew vs. Jew Race For Pennsylvania Swing Seat". Jewish Daily Forward. September 17, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susan Wild.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
2018–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district
2019–2025 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the House Ethics Committee
2022–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee
2023–2025 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susan_Wild&oldid=1284299203"