BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Gov. Josh Shapiro has thrown his support behind firefighter union boss Bob Brooks in the crowded Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.
In a news release Sunday night, Shapiro formally endorsed Brooks, citing his support for organized labor and his history of fighting for higher wages, better health care and improved workplace safety.
"Bob Brooks is a firefighter who has spent his life running towards danger and showing up on our worst days to protect Pennsylvanians and keep our families safe — and he is the fighter our friends and neighbors all across the Lehigh Valley deserve in Washington," Shapiro said in a news release.
In the same release, Brooks expressed gratitude for Shapiro's support. The two have worked together on issues such as expanding PTSI coverage for first responders, he said.
"Gov. Shapiro's knack for bringing people together is why he's so deeply trusted in our state, and his endorsement is a powerful vote of confidence in our campaign," said Brooks, a retired Bethlehem firefighter and president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.
Shapiro's support has long been rumored in local political circles; Lt. Gov. Austin Davis was one of Brooks's early backers when he launched his campaign in August.
While endorsements don't normally shift campaign cycles, few politicians carry the heft of Josh Shapiro, a widely popular governor who is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028.
While endorsements don't normally shift campaign cycles, few politicians carry the heft of Shapiro, a widely popular governor who is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028. Shapiro carried the Lehigh Valley's congressional district by more than 12 percentage points while cruising to victory in his 2022 gubernatorial election.
Brooks is one of five candidates competing for the Democratic Party's nomination in one of the country's most coveted political battlegrounds. Other Democratic candidates include former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, energy engineer Carol Obando-Derstine and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley.
While Brooks was the last candidate to enter the race, he's wasted little time building up his war chest. His latest campaign finance report showed that he raised more than $300,000 in about a month upon launching his campaign. Crosswell was the only other Democrat to top that amount in the three-month reporting period, raising a reported $380,128.
The winner of the primary is expected to take on Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a first-term lawmaker who eked out a 1 percentage-point victory in the 2024 race. Republicans from across the country have funneled financial support to help defend the swing-seat. Mackenzie had $1.4 million on hand at the end of September, according to campaign finance reports.
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District is one of just a handful of toss-up seats in the nation as a new wave of gerrymandering sweeps the country. Experts anticipate this will push even more resources into the few remaining battlegrounds in a narrowly divided U.S. House.
As a toss-up district in a swing state, appearances and endorsements by political VIPs have become common in the Lehigh Valley. President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries all visited the district last year to rally voters ahead of the federal election.
Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Lehigh County on Tuesday just as the 2026 midterms kick into gear.
