Bob Brooks, a former firefighter and union leader, won the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, setting up a general election showdown with freshman Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA). Brooks defeated three other Democratic challengers—Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure, and Carol Obando-Derstine—with about 41.4% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. Mackenzie ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Brooks, who received endorsements from Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, among others, centered his campaign on his working-class background. He argued that Washington is dominated by elites and needs representatives who understand everyday financial struggles. Brooks highlighted his own life story, including growing up in a household that relied on food assistance, facing medical debt, and working various jobs before becoming a firefighter.
The 7th District is considered one of the most competitive in Pennsylvania, and Brooks’ victory could signal Democrats’ efforts to regain ground with working-class voters who have increasingly shifted toward President Donald Trump. Brooks contends his personal experience gives him a unique ability to reconnect with these voters.
During the primary, Brooks faced scrutiny over old social media posts expressing more moderate or conservative views, including one using an off-color term to describe former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Despite this, he secured key endorsements, including from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania’s third-largest city.
Mackenzie, who won his seat in the 2022 midterms, will now face Brooks in the November general election in a district that has seen significant political shifts in recent years.