ALLENTOWN, PA (February 9, 2024) Republican candidate Allen Issa announced the suspension
of his campaign for Congress and his endorsement of Maria Montero in the Republican primary
election in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. Issa will also be joining the Montero
campaign as a policy advisor and will assist with fundraising efforts.
Issa, a former Congressional aide and legal fellow to the House Judiciary Committee, said he
was suspending his campaign to focus on completing his education at Penn State Law. He
reached his decision to endorse Montero aer speaking and meeng with each of the other
Republican candidates.
“My campaign for Congress was driven by a deep commitment to our district’s future, not
personal ambition,” said Issa. “I entered this race with a singular focus: to offer the leadership
necessary to defeat the current incumbent, Susan Wild, and to bring about a new era of
prosperity for our community. My Congressional experience provides me a unique ability to
assess what qualities and experience are needed to effectively represent residents of the 7th
Congressional District. It is clear to me that Maria Montero is the best equipped candidate not
only to defeat Susan Wild, but also to serve the people of the district in Congress. Her vision for
our district and her unwavering dedication to our shared values stand out.”
“I launched my campaign for Congress because I was deeply concerned about our district’s
future and Susan Wild’s failure to reflect the values of her constituents,” said Issa. “Maria will
provide the leadership our district so desperately needs and I am confident she will make an
excellent Congresswoman who will help to bring about a new era of prosperity for our
community.”
“I am honored to have Allen’s endorsement of my campaign for Congress,” said Montero. “Allen
is intelligent, hard-working, and ran a strong grassroots campaign. I look forward to having his
support as we continue our outreach to Republican voters leading up to the April primary
election.”
As a former Congressional aide and Legal Fellow, Allen worked on foreign policy issues related
to the crisis in Ukraine and Afghanistan. He also worked closely with the House Judiciary
Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Internet, and Courts where he played a significant role
in congressional hearings on policy matters such as intellectual property and strategic
competition with China.
About Maria Montero
Maria Montero is a mother, attorney, and former Executive Director of both the Pennsylvania
Commission for Women and the Pennsylvania Latino Commission. The daughter of an
immigrant and great granddaughter of Carbon County Irish coal miners, Montero was born in
the coal region of the Panther Valley and raised in the 7th Congressional District. A resident of
Easton, Maria currently serves on the board of her alma maters Marian Catholic High School
and the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. Maria was a co-founder of the Lehigh
Valley’s Power of Women Networking Initiative, previously served as a Trustee of DeSales
University, on the board of the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley, and was a member of the
Allentown Puerto Rican Parade Committee. After attending St. Joseph’s/Our Lady of the Valley
and Marian Catholic High School, Maria went on to graduate from Saint Joseph’s University and
Widener School of Law.
For more information on Maria Montero and her campaign for Congress,
please visit her website at www.mariamontero.org.
Media Contacts:
Pete Peterson
P: 215.990.8928
E: press@mariamontero.org