Could Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-07) have a challenger for reelection before he completes two months on the job?

The answer could come Thursday.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure will be making a “major” announcement at 5 p.m. at the courthouse in Easton. Rumors are circulating around the building that he will announce he is running for Congress.

The Democrat announced at the end of the year that he did not intend to run for a third term as County Executive.

It should be noted that Pennsylvania does not have a “resign to run” law, but running for Congress while simultaneously running a county would present problems on both ends.

McClure came under fire after the 2023 municipal election that saw county voting machines switching yes and no votes on a paper summary of selections in two judicial retention contests early in the day. While some viewed him as vulnerable, McClure told Armchair Lehigh Valley at the time of his announcement that he was “exploring other ways to serve the public.”

An attorney, McClure served on NorCo council from 2006 to 2013 and was elected county executive in 2017.

Mackenzie and McClure have been at odds over the county’s policy regarding detaining immigrants suspected of crime, arguing that local officials fail to cooperate fully with federal agents.

“This is not about just one case — this is about a pattern of bad policy decisions by McClure that put criminals ahead of law-abiding citizens,” Mackenzie continued. “Northampton County’s refusal to fully cooperate with ICE defies common sense and creates real dangers for the officers working to keep our communities safe.”

McClure said the order balances the need to protect the public while also protecting county taxpayers from potential lawsuits over mistaken incarcerations.

Mackenzie ousted three-term Democrat Susan Wild in November by approximately 4,000 votes. Wild has said that she has not ruled out another run at the Lehigh Valley congressional seat.

The “McClureForCongress” domain name was registered last Wednesday.

Steve Ulrich is the managing editor of PoliticsPA.

This article was originally published in PoliticsPA.