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\u2019 campaign for Congress, helping to consolidate his support among prominent Democrats as a competitive primary election looms.<\/p>\n
In a written statement, Warren said Brooks, a former Bethlehem firefighter and Pennsylvania Fire Fighters Association president, will \u201cflip Pennsylvania\u2019s 7th District and deliver for working people in Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBob has spent his whole career fighting for the people and their well being, not billionaires and corporations,\u201d Warren said in her statement. \u201cIn Congress, he\u2019ll fight to pass Medicare for All, break up corporate monopolies that exploit regular Americans and raise taxes on the ultra-wealthy. I\u2019m proud to get behind him and help him get to Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brooks faces three other Democrats in their party\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
PA 7th Congressional District Election 2026: Where the Democrats stand on issues including immigration, rising costs<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n Brooks appears to be a frontrunner in the race\u2014 he has secured endorsements from prominent Democrats including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, three of Pennsylvania\u2019s 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\u2019s Pennsylvania state council, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Working Families Party and Lehigh Valley for All.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n