BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Three-term Democratic incumbent Susan Wild on Wednesday morning conceded her re-election campaign for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.
Unofficial results from Pennsylvania Department of State show Wild trailing Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie by more than 5,500 votes.
Mackenzie declared victory about 1 a.m. from his watch party at the Americus Hotel in Center City Allentown.
Wild's watch party blocks away at the DaVinci Science Center disbursed after midnight without Wild addressing the results.
In a lengthy statement released at 8:43 a.m., Wild described her defeat as a bitter disappointment. She congratulated Mackenzie and promised to assist in his transition into office.
"This is how American democracy works," Wild said. "It's how we move forward. And it is absolutely crucial that candidates, in victory and defeat, abide by this principle.
"You cannot only recognize the results of elections you win, no matter how much you may disagree with them."
Wild thanked her supporters and asked them to dust themselves off and get back to work organizing for a better future.
She called her six years in Washington representing the Lehigh Valley as the greatest privilege of her life.
"I will continue to use my voice to fight for the causes that drove me to run for office in the first place," Wild said.
"Women's rights, workers' rights, affordable health care, democracy itself are all issues that require constant engagement from all of us to form a better country."
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District is among the country's most coveted U.S. House seats.
The district, which includes all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties plus a sliver of Monroe County, is among about two dozen toss-up seats in the country.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for more updates.