(The Center Square) – Bob Brooks, a firefighters’ union leader, will represent the Democratic Party in the fall for the 7th U.S. House District against incumbent Republican Congressman Ryan Mackenzie.
Brooks was one of four candidates vying for his party’s nod, while Mackenzie was the only Republican to file for the seat.
The Associated Press called the race for Brooks at 9:46 p.m. on Tuesday night. With over 95% of the vote counted early Wednesday morning, Brooks received 41%.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor, are neck-and-neck after Brooks, with both receiving roughly 20.5% of the vote, as of Wednesday morning. Carol Obando-Derstine, who worked as an aide to former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, had 17% of the vote.
Each Democratic Party candidate received endorsements from various well-known elected officials and organizations within the party’s coalition.
Brooks, who serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, was endorsed by Gov. Josh Shapiro, multiple senators, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Working Families Party, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, and more.
Crosswell was backed by Vote Vets, Democratic Majority Action, Rep. Derek Tran, Lehigh County Commissioner Sarah Fevig, and more.
Obando-Derstine was supported by former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, multiple current congresswomen, Emily’s List, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, and more. McClure was endorsed by the Philadelphia Building Trades, the Lehigh Valley Building Trades, and a number of local elected officials in the region.
Leading up to the primary election, Crosswell and Brooks distanced themselves from the other candidates in fundraising.
Since Crosswell announced his candidacy in June, he raised $1.75 million through April 30, which was the final campaign finance report filed before the primary election. Brooks raised $1.17 million since he entered the race in late August.
Earlier this month, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced its support for Brooks in the race, prompting pushback from some local Democrats who view it as the national party putting its thumb on the scale.
Mackenzie has received endorsements from a wide range of Republicans, including President Donald Trump.
The race for the 7th U.S. House seat is expected to garner attention in Pennsylvania and beyond, with control for the U.S. House on the line in November.
Mackenzie was elected to Congress in 2024 by defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.
His one-point victory, by roughly 4,000 votes, was the closest Congressional race in Pennsylvania in 2024.
The Cook Political Report, which describes the race as a “toss up” said that “Pennsylvania’s 7th District, nestled in the Lehigh Valley, is a rare true swing seat. Donald Trump won the district by three points in 2016, lost it by less than a point in 2020, and then won it again by three points last year.”
