7th District Republican candidates embrace President Trump at tea party forum

Feb. 7--Two out of the three Republican candidates hoping to beat Democratic Rep. Susan Wild to represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress have embraced President Donald Trump and supported his hard stances on abortion and immigration.

At a crowded forum Thursday night at the Starlite Social Ballroom, hosted by the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, candidates Dean Browning and Matt Connolly differed very little on policies, both aligning themselves with Trump. They said the main goal was to beat Democrat Wild in the 7th District. Those in attendance applauded when the candidates showed support for school choice, a border wall and the fight against abortion.

"I am running for Congress because I want to be an ally for President Trump as he fights to keep America great," said Browning, a former Lehigh County commissioner and retired businessman. "And he needs all the support he can get."

Lisa Scheller, a Schuylkill County businesswoman and Allentown resident, is also running but was absent Thursday because of a commitment in Washington, D.C. . But a surrogate spoke of her business background and her support for the anti-abortion movement and Second Amendment.

But it was Connolly and Browning who referred to Trump throughout the night. Both said Americans have prospered under Trump, and that they want to keep that momentum going.

Connolly, a former race car driver from Bethlehem Township, unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice when parts of Northampton County were in Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright's district.

"Do you remember where we were four years ago at this time?" Connolly asked. "Still under the fear of the Obama regime. ... Now look at us. We are buoyant. We are motivated and happy."

The 7th District includes Lehigh, Northampton and parts of Monroe counties. Much of it overlaps with the former 15th District, which had been represented for nearly 14 years by Republican Charlie Dent, who stepped down last year. Voter registration in the 7th District leans slightly in favor of Democrats.

Northampton was one of three Pennsylvania counties that Trump flipped in 2016 from supporting Democrat Barack Obama in 2012. Trump's gains there were a key piece of his statewide victory.

Wild, an attorney and former Allentown city solicitor, won the seat in 2018 by 10 percentage points. Both parties are targeting the seat in next year's election. Republicans need to win back such moderates to have a shot at regaining a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

At the forum, Browning and Connolly took jabs at Democrats and Wild. Browning -- who lost the GOP nomination for Congress to Marty Nothstein in 2018 -- called her "the enemy." Connolly said Wild can be beaten because she's "vulnerable" politically.

When it came to immigration, Browning and Connolly toed the Trump line against sanctuary cities and counties and in favor of a wall at the Mexican border.

"When I say we need secure borders, I mean we need to finish building the wall, period. No excuses," Browning said.

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Both candidates addressed their commitment to fight abortion rights.

"I am 100% pro-life from conception to natural death," Connolly said. "The child is always innocent, regardless of how conceived."

Browning also said he supports school choice. In response to a question, Connolly expressed skepticism in climate change, similar to what the president has said.

The primary is April 28.

Morning Call reporter Jacqueline Palochko can be reached at 610-820-6613 or at [email protected].

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