Pennsylvania's competitive U.S. House races tighten ahead of Tuesday's election

Four Republican-held congressional seats in Pennsylvania are drawing strong Democratic challenges ahead of Tuesday's Nov. 3 election, and political analysts have moved their forecasts toward Democrats in several of them, WHYY reported. According to WHYY, Democrats see more potential pickups in Pennsylvania than in any other state.

The Lehigh Valley's 7th District is among the closest. Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie won the seat in 2024 by roughly 4,000 votes, defeating Democratic Rep. Susan Wild. He now faces Democrat Bob Brooks, a Bethlehem firefighter and president of the state firefighters' union who has never held elected office. WHYY described the district as covering Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, while CBS Philadelphia said it also includes part of Monroe County.

WHYY reported that Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabato's Crystal Ball all rate the race a toss-up, and that a recent poll showed Brooks ahead by 5 points. Federal filings cited by WHYY show the two candidates nearly even in fundraising, at about $5.3 million each through Oct. 14.

CBS Philadelphia described the contest as bruising, marked by attack ads, threatened lawsuits and a canceled debate. Asked about affordability, Brooks told the station, "We gotta stop these tariffs," and blamed the war for rising diesel costs. Mackenzie pointed to tax credits for children and child care, and said he is working on bipartisan child care legislation.

Mackenzie has run ads about a lawsuit Brooks' mother filed over an unpaid loan, which has since been settled, WHYY reported. CBS Philadelphia said Mackenzie also claimed Brooks lacked workers' compensation coverage for employees of his lawn care business, which Brooks denies. Brooks' campaign has sent cease-and-desist letters over the ads, both outlets reported.

In Bucks County's 1st District, five-term Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who won by nearly 13 points in 2024, faces Montgomery County Commissioner Bob Harvie. WHYY reported that the only public poll shows Harvie at 48% and Fitzpatrick at 46%, within the margin of error. Fitzpatrick has raised about $8 million to Harvie's roughly $3 million. Republicans have released a video accusing Harvie of being a subject of a 2022 FBI investigation in Falls Township; Harvie says he was only a witness and has sued for defamation, according to WHYY.

In the 8th District, Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan is being challenged by Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. WHYY reported that a recent poll showed Cognetti leading 51% to 46%, and that she has outraised him. Bresnahan has faced criticism over stock trades made since taking office; he denies wrongdoing and has sponsored legislation to limit congressional stock trading.

WHYY also noted a race in the Harrisburg suburbs involving Republican Rep. Scott Perry, who has aligned himself closely with President Trump.

Compiled by True News from reporting by WHYY and CBS Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/568