BETHLEHEM, PA. — Bob Brooks, head of the state firefighters union, delivered a six-minute address to union leaders and supporters in Bethlehem, Pa., on Monday as part of his campaign for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday.

Brooks has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ahead of the vote. He is competing against Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure, and Carol Obando-Derstine for the Democratic nomination in the Lehigh Valley district.

"They see and understand the fact that people just like me have been leaving this party in droves for years because they see it as a party of elites, and they felt left behind," Brooks said. "They see that it needs change, and I can offer that change."

Brooks, who owns a snow-removal and lawn care business and coaches baseball locally, said he began working when he ran a paper route at age 10. He said voters who had drifted from the Democratic Party could identify with his background. "Those people that have left the party can look at me and see themselves in me," he said.

David Melman, elected leader of the Pennsylvania Joint Board of Workers United SEIU, commented on the dual endorsements. "When you can get them both to endorse you, maybe it says more about Bob than it does about either of them," Melman said.

Andrew Mamo, a spokesperson for The Bench, also spoke about the support for Brooks. "Rallying behind Brooks is an admission that we need more normal people and fewer lawyers," Mamo said. "There are far more firefighters in the country than a-list lawyers."

The 7th District has shifted between the parties in recent elections. In 2020, Joe Biden won the district by one point. In 2022, Shapiro carried it by 12 points in his gubernatorial race. In 2024, Donald Trump carried the district by three points, the same year Ryan Mackenzie defeated former Rep. Susan Wild by one point.