Bob Brooks Defeats Ryan Mackenzie in 7th LV Congressional Race
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HARRISBURG — Democrat Bob Brooks defeated Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District race Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race just before 10:30 p.m.
According to unofficial results, Brooks captured roughly 56 percent of the vote and Mackenzie received 44 percent in Tuesday’s election.
A former firefighter and President of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, Brooks ran on a “Put the Fire Out in Washington” platform that included healthcare reform, tax increases for the “ultra-wealthy,” raising the minimum wage, lowering housing and childcare costs and protecting reproductive rights.
Mackenzie was a member of the state House from 2012 representing the 134th District in Lehigh County until he was elected to Congress in 2024. His “12 Priorities to Help You” platform included tax relief, healthcare, improving housing affordability, border security and banning members of Congress from trading stocks.
Two years ago, Mackenzie flipped the seat Democrat Susan Wild had held for three terms. During his term he voted for the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” co-sponsored a bill to ban members of Congress from trading stocks and voted in favor of reinstating enhanced Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies.
The 7th Congressional District covers Lehigh and Northampton counties, as well as all of Carbon County and part of Monroe County. Of the nearly 547,000 registered voters in the district, about 42 percent are Democrats, 38 percent are Republicans and 21 percent are unaffiliated, according to state data. The Cook Political Report had changed its rating of the race from “toss-up” to “lean Democrat” in early October.
Among the top-of-mind issues cited by voters who headed to the polls Tuesday were the affordability of energy and the impact of rising fuel costs, which have increased dramatically since the U.S. went to war with Iran in February on orders from Republican President Donald Trump.
“The people of Pennsylvania deserve leaders who are looking out for us and ensuring that we can afford to fill our gas tank and keep our lights on, and that’s why voters in Pennsylvania’s 7th District elected Bob Brooks,” said Abby Cox of the watchdog organization Climate Power. “Ryan Mackenzie and his fellow Republicans rubber-stamped Trump’s agenda at every turn, and now they’re paying the price. Pennsylvanians need relief from skyrocketing prices, and Bob Brooks will work to bring down costs for Pennsylvanians—not enrich oil and gas billionaires.”
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