Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a former candidate for president and one of the most prominent progressive elected officials in the United States, has endorsed Bob Brooks’ campaign for Congress, helping to consolidate his support among prominent Democrats as a competitive primary election looms.
In a written statement, Warren said Brooks, a former Bethlehem firefighter and Pennsylvania Fire Fighters Association president, will “flip Pennsylvania’s 7th District and deliver for working people in Congress.”
“Bob has spent his whole career fighting for the people and their well being, not billionaires and corporations,” Warren said in her statement. “In Congress, he’ll fight to pass Medicare for All, break up corporate monopolies that exploit regular Americans and raise taxes on the ultra-wealthy. I’m proud to get behind him and help him get to Washington.”
Brooks faces three other Democrats in their party’s May 19 primary to challenge Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, in the November general election: former PPL engineer Carol Obando-Derstine; former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell; and former Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure.
The district includes all of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, and a portion of western Monroe County. The race could help determine which party takes control of the House of Representatives in November; it is one of the most competitive districts in the country, and Mackenzie, who was elected in 2024, is considered one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents, according to the nonpartisan National Journal.
Brooks appears to be a frontrunner in the race— he has secured endorsements from prominent Democrats including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, three of Pennsylvania’s Democratic Congress members, and a slate of local Democrats including Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and state Sen. Nick Miller. His campaign has also received widespread support from unions and interest groups, including the International Association of Fire Fighters, Service Employees International Union’s Pennsylvania state council, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Working Families Party and Lehigh Valley for All.
Brooks lags in fundraising behind Crosswell, who leads the field of Democrats with over $715,000 in his war chest as of the end of March. However, Brooks has benefited from over $500,000 in spending from outside political action committees that support his campaign, according to public finance records.
Warren’s endorsement comes as attacks on Brooks from his opponents have become more visible. Last week Brooks apologized for a series of Facebook posts from 2019, including one that criticized former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his participation in pro-racial justice protests, and another that blamed school shootings on a lack of prayer in schools.
“I’m proud of my record of service as a first responder and union leader,” Brooks said in a statement released by his campaign. “Politics is nasty — a bunch of D.C. insiders who don’t want more working people in office are selectively digging up years-old Facebook posts. I’ve shared a few stupid things over the years, and for that I am sorry. I believe who I’ve fought for and my values have always been clear.”
The primary election is May 19. The last day to register to vote is May 4, and the last day to request a mail-in ballot is May 12.
Only members of the Democratic Party may vote in that party’s primary election.
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.