GOP lawmaker rallies around Trump's tax-cut campaign as competitive 2026 House race looms: 'Big issue'
Print Close
By Deirdre Heavey
Published May 19, 2025
BETHLEHEM, PA – Freshman GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie flipped a congressional seat in the Lehigh Valley just six months ago, but with competitive midterm elections expected in 2026, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is already building its grassroots coalition in his swing district.
It's an off-election year for Mackenzie, who unseated longtime Democrat Rep. Susan Wild in November, but as the 42-year-old jogged through neighborhood blocks in Bethlehem and greeted constituents at their doors on Saturday afternoon, the newest Pennsylvania congressman still has 17 months before his first re-election challenge.
Mackenzie joined AFP activists in the Lehigh Valley on Saturday for a day of action, designed to educate constituents on his work to extend President Donald Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and pass Trump's "big, beautiful bill" as budget negotiations continue back on Capitol Hill. He said it was his first time door knocking since winning in November.
"We have a tremendous opportunity as members of Congress to actually pass transformative legislation which will bring down taxes and the cost of living for not only individuals, but small businesses all across this country. For the past four years, we've seen that inflation has been out of control, driving up the prices of everything — food, fuel, housing, healthcare," Mackenzie told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
GOP REPS, ADVOCACY GROUP TO TARGET COMPETITIVE HOUSE DISTRICTS IN TRUMP TAX-CUT PUSH
"It's been very difficult for people to make ends meet. That was a big issue in the campaign, and now we have that opportunity to deliver, as members of Congress, with significant tax reform and tax relief," Mackenzie added.
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS TARGETING DOZENS OF HOUSE REPUBLICAN-HELD SEATS IN 2026 MIDTERM BATTLE FOR MAJORITY
Conservative holdouts stalled a procedural vote for reconciliation on Friday, prompting House leaders to return to the Hill late Sunday night to continue negotiations. Meanwhile, Trump is urging House Republicans to pass his "big, beautiful bill" following his high-profile diplomatic trip to the Middle East last week.
"Ultimately, we do have to get a resolution that satisfies 218 members of Congress. We're very close to doing that, and this is all part of the process. Nobody should be upset or concerned about any kind of little bumps in the road, because ultimately, we're going to come together to do what's right for the American people," Mackenzie said.
The conservative advocacy group teamed up with GOP Reps. David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, Ashley Hinson of Iowa, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Mackenzie of Pennsylvania for door-knocking, phone banks and grassroots organizing in a show of support for Trump's tax cuts this weekend — telling constituents how their representatives are working to alleviate financial burden for everyday Americans.
AFP shared with Fox News Digital that they reached over 90,000 voters on Saturday.
"Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania has been on the ground knocking doors, making calls, hosting events, and organizing demonstrations to educate and show the urgency for Congress to make provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent," Emily Greene, Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania State Director, told Fox News Digital.
"We're talking with taxpayers and business owners every day who understand that Congress needs to get to work — we can't risk facing the largest tax hike in American history. After four years of record-high inflation, taxpayers deserve better."
AFP launched the day of action in conjunction with a $20 million "Protect Prosperity" campaign, which the advocacy group called the single largest investment of any outside group dedicated to preserving the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
And it's no coincidence that AFP focused its attention on competitive congressional districts in Arizona, Iowa, Michigan and Pennsylvania this weekend, as contentious races are expected in 2026. While Saturday's day of action was designed to spotlight how Republican representatives are working in Washington, D.C., to boost the economy for everyday Americans back home, it also launched an early messaging campaign.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
As Democrats try to win back control in the House of Representatives in 2026, AFP is getting ahead of Democrats' likely attacks on vulnerable Republicans' support for Trump's "big, beautiful bill" — by telling Republican voters that their representatives are delivering for them. Print Close
URL
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-lawmaker-rallies-trumps-tax-cut-campaign-competitive-2026-house-race-looms-big-issue
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
18 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's World Is 'Fracturing,' Former Giuliani Associate Warns
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lev Parnas, a former associate of Rudy Giuliani, is warning that President Donald Trump's world is "fracturing" amid Elon Musk's rebuke of his sweeping spending bill and other recent policy moves. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment on Wednesday. Why It Matters The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a key avenue for Republicans to advance the White House's agenda following the widespread GOP victories in the November election. Key Republican holdouts in the House and Senate have voiced opposition to the bill, citing concerns that it would increase the national debt, among other worries. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, former Department of Government Efficiency chief Musk bashed the piece of legislation, saying, "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." Musk doubled down in another X post on Wednesday: "A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn't massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS." What To Know In a Substack article published on Wednesday, Parnas mentioned Musk's recent shift against the president's beloved legislation. "I've been warning you for months now — there are real cracks forming inside Trump's world. And not just little disagreements behind the scenes," Parnas wrote. "The latest — and loudest — break came from Elon Musk." Parnas said that Musk was "paraded around the White House" in the first few months of Trump's second term, but the Tesla billionaire is no longer "playing" along. The former Giuliani associate is a Ukrainian American businessman who was convicted in 2021 of fraud and campaign finance crimes. He was then sentenced to 20 months in prison. "I've seen how this works from the inside," Parnas wrote. "When loyalty turns to silence, and silence turns to defiance — it's over. The myth of Trump's control starts to collapse." "But Elon is just the loudest crack. The truth is, Trump's empire is fracturing on every front," he added. Parnas went on to note that policy decisions, such as tariffs, praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the acceptance of a Qatari airliner, are also causing cracks in Trump's world. "And I'm telling you now: the very foundation of Trump's power — fear and obedience — is crumbling," Parnas wrote. "Elon might be the first to break publicly, but he won't be the last. There are lawmakers. There are donors. There are insiders. I promise you, they are rattled. And some of them are looking for a way out." Lev Parnas testifies during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on March 20, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Lev Parnas testifies during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on March 20, 2024, in Washington, People Are Saying President Donald Trump, Monday on Truth Social: "So many false statements are being made about 'THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,' but what nobody understands is that it's the single biggest Spending Cut in History, by far! But there will be NO CUTS to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid." Trump continued: "In fact, they will be saved from the incompetence of the Democrats. The Democrats, who have totally lost their confidence and their way, are saying whatever comes to mind — Anything to win! They suffered the Greatest Humiliation in the History of Politics, and they're desperate to get back on their game, but they won't be able to do that because their Policies are so bad, in fact, they would lead to the Destruction of our Country, and almost did." The president concluded, "The only 'cutting' we will do is for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, something that should have been done by the Incompetent, Radical Left Democrats for the last four years, but wasn't." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday: "Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn't change the president's opinion." What Happens Next Trump has set a deadline for Senate Republicans to pass the bill and have it on his desk before July 4. It is unclear whether Republican senators will garner enough votes to get it done.
Axios
22 minutes ago
- Axios
5 key things from Gov. Hochul's interview with Axios
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Wednesday that lawmakers who claim not to have read parts of the GOP spending bill should use ChatGPT to ask: "Anything I should worry about in here?" The big picture: Hochul spoke about the economic, political and social consequences of AI — from training workforces to children's safety — while speaking with Axios' Ina Fried at the AI+ Summit in New York. Here are five key things Hochul said in her interview with Axios' Ina Fried. 1. Hochul took a dig at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) for saying she didn't know the GOP tax bill that passed the House last month included a provision that would ban states and municiplaities from regulating the tech for 10 years. Hochul referenced Greene, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, without naming her when mentioning she's set to testify on Capitol Hill next week with other Democratic governors about immigration policies. "They're claiming did not know that there was a 10 year ban on any ... AI" regulation, she said. "You voted for it. Just ask ChatGPT. ... just some humble advice for them." 2. She called out the GOP spending bill for that provision, calling it a "concerning" move by House Republicans. Hochul indicated it jeopardizes New York's ban on sexual exploitation of young girls on social media through the use of AI. 3. AI doesn't have to replace jobs, Hochul said. "AI can increase productivity dramatically," the governor said, adding that she's not looking to eliminate jobs. "I want ... people to have a better customer experience when they come into a DMV or other offices, so I see great potential here." 4."I'm New York state's first mom governor, and I look out for all the kids," she said regarding online safety. "So that's where I approach this from, is what we can do to protect our children, but not unnecessarily constrain what AI is all about and the potential?" 5. New York is challenging the White House including on saving offshore wind, congestion pricing and challenges to birthright citizenship.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Musk calls for killing House's ‘big, beautiful bill'
Elon Musk on Wednesday called for killing the House's 'big, beautiful bill' and for a new spending bill to be drafted after he threw a wrench into GOP leadership's plans to pass President Trump's bill of legislative priorities by July 4. 'A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn't massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS,' Musk said on his social platform X. He later added on X, 'Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL.' Musk, who was at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called the legislation passed by the House 'pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination' on Tuesday. His stinging criticism doubled down on his previous comments that the bill undermines the cost-cutting efforts of DOGE. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Wednesday that there isn't time for a new bill in response to Musk's comments. 'I want Elon and all my friends to recognize the complexity of what we've accomplished here. This extraordinary piece of legislation, record number of savings, record tax cuts for the American people and all the other benefits in it. We worked on the bill for almost 14 months. You can't go back to the drawing board, and we shouldn't,' Johnson said. 'We have a great product to deliver here. So I know it doesn't … it's not perfect by some peoples' estimations. But you cannot make perfect the enemy of the very, very, very good. …So I'll continue to try to reach Elon and tell him, extol the merits of our work here. I hope he'll understand it.' Musk's criticism gave political cover to the fiscal hawks in the Senate who were already critical of the legislation, including GOP Sens. Ron Johnson (Wis.), Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.). Paul said Tuesday on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' that if four conservatives band together, they could force Senate GOP leaders to agree to bigger spending cuts and possibly 'separate out' language to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. Similarly, Lee called for the Senate to 'make this bill better.' The group wants to see deeper spending cuts while other Republicans, like Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Jerry Moran (Kan.), are worried that House language to cut Medicaid spending will hurt their constituents. Meanwhile, the White House has brushed off Musk bashing the bill and said his criticism 'doesn't change the president's opinion.' Speaker Johnson earlier Wednesday said Trump is 'not delighted' with Musk's position on the bill and that 'Elon did a 180 on that.' Trump is 'deeply involved' with 'personally advocating' for the bill, and there will be additional meetings going forward between the administration and lawmakers to get it passed, a White House official told The Hill. Trump held a press conference with Musk in the Oval Office on Friday to mark his exit from the White House team and to thank the Tesla CEO for his work to overhaul the federal government. Mychael Schnell contributed. Updated at 4:26 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
