PA-07: Bob Brooks, Labor Leader Backed by Top Democrats, Wins Pennsylvania House Primary

Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter and union leader who amassed support from both moderates and liberals, won the Democratic primary on Tuesday in a battleground district in Pennsylvania, according to The Associated Press.

Mr. Brooks will face Representative Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican, in a general election contest in a Lehigh Valley district north of Philadelphia that is anticipated to be one of the most competitive in the country this fall.

Mr. Brooks earned the endorsements of both outsider progressives, such as Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, as well as the establishment, including Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. His campaign was seen as one of the most prominent efforts by the party this year to elevate working-class candidates at a time when Democrats have been accused of losing touch with everyday Americans.

Despite his broad base of support, Mr. Brooks faced a crowded primary. His opponents included Lamont McClure, a former county executive; Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor; and Carol Obando-Derstine, an engineer.


https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/bob-brooks-pennsylvania-house-primary.html