Bob Brookspresident of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, was announced by the Associated Press as the winner of the 7th Congressional District Democratic primary.
As of 10 p.m., Brooks had won 41.43 percent of the vote — 20 percent more than the former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell which was second with 21.13%. Former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure he was a close third with 20.73% while he was energy director Carol Obando-Derstine was fourth with 16.7%.
“As a Bethlehem firefighter, I have spent 20 years running into burning buildings because nothing is more important to me than protecting the community I love,” Brooks said in a post-election statement. “I have met the challenges of everyday people, and I know firsthand what it’s like to work multiple jobs at once to get by. I’ve worked hard to get through this crisis, and today I’m honored to stand before us as the Democratic candidate in Congress, representing the hard-working men and women of the Lehigh Valley and Carbon County. This is a victory for every person in our community who has felt left behind, is tired of a broken Washington, and is ready to send more working-class voices to Congress to fight for us.”
“My opponent Congressman Ryan Mackenzie he is a career politician who lied to our faces while campaigning on promises to cut costs. Prices of everything from gas to groceries to health care skyrocketed while Mackenzie was in Washington, D.C., and he voted to spend billions of dollars in Iran while our community is left behind, gas prices rise and Americans lose their lives. Working people across the Lehigh Valley struggle while Mackenzie does the bidding of Donald Trump, his DC party bosses, and the corporate donors who own him. Sufficiently. It’s time to send one of us to Congress to actually fight for our families and make life more affordable. We will complete the task in November.”
In his victory speech, Brooks, who won the endorsement of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapirothanked McClure, Crosswell and Obando-Derstine for running spirited campaigns focused on holding Mackenzie accountable.
The National Republican Congressional Committee congratulated Mackenzie, a freshman representative who stepped aside Rep. Susan Wild in 2024
“Congressman Ryan Mackenzie spent his first term fighting to lower the cost of living, improve community safety and provide much-needed tax relief to Pennsylvania workers, families and seniors,” a spokesman said Reilly Richardson. “Bernie Bro Bob Brooks is a far-left socialist and a polling fraud whose entire campaign is supported by DC Democrats. Voters know Brooks’ tax and spend agenda would devastate the Lehigh Valley, which is why they will re-elect Ryan Mackenzie in November.”
Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a super PAC endorsed by announcer Mike Johnson and House Republican Party leaders also saluted Mackenzie, who ran unopposed.
“I congratulate Ryan Mackenzie on winning another jackpot. As a tireless advocate for American families, Ryan has consistently pursued key priorities: cutting taxes, expanding the child tax credit, and freeing up domestic energy production to lower utility costs,” said CLF President Chris Winkelman. “Bob Brooks cannot be trusted. If he is willing to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from his family members, he will steal it from working families in Pennsylvania. We can’t wait to expose him for the fraud he is.”
This story will be updated.
