Greetings all. I’m excited to share a recording from the live discussion I held earlier this afternoon with Bob Brooks, our terrific candidate working hard to flip PA-07 blue this November. This is one of our best pick up opportunities in the country as the incumbent Republican won by only 4,000 votes in 2024:
As we discuss in the interview the Philadelphia Inquirer and the NY Times released a new poll of Pennsylvania today that has Governor Josh Shapiro up 20 points, 58%-38%, and the generic ballot 53%-44%, a full 11 points better than 2024. This is far better climate than 2024 and it’s giving us a real shot at flipping PA-7 - and the three other contested races we are supporting PA-01, PA-08, and PA-10 - this November.
From our conversation:
I’ve been here since 1992 and made this my community. I came down here and I went right to work in various places — driving a truck, bartending — and then I got a job as a firefighter in the city of Bethlehem, the best job I’ve ever taken, a great opportunity, and I became a union leader. In my union leader role I made a bunch of relationships. I never had any interest in running for Congress, or running for office, to be honest with you — I was very happy just representing my members. I had done that for over 20 years, trying to get them better health care, better wages, better working conditions. And now I just want to do that for the people of Pennsylvania’s 7th. I want to enhance their lives and make things better.
You can support Bob today by making a contribution to our new Growing Our House Majority Fund or by donating to his campaign directly here. To learn more, head to Bob’s website where you can also sign up to volunteer.
Here are Bob’s latest ads. Both are very good ones:
I asked Bob about what is like now that the general elections ads have started flying. Here is what he told us:
I have a phenomenal team that's helped me make these ads and put these videos out, and they've done great work. As far as I'm concerned, I think we came out hard with our "dumpster fire" ad, showing what we're about and showing the hard side. Then we followed it up with our baseball ad, which softens it a little bit and really shows a different side of me — how I can operate on all levels, and have done that for 20 years. Listen, nobody likes waking up and seeing lies spread about them on TV. Because that's all people see. That's what happens when somebody can't stand on their own votes.
……
If Ryan Mackenzie wants to concentrate on trying to smear my name with lies, a name most people around here know isn't smearable, then he can go ahead and do that. I'll keep concentrating on the people right here in Pennsylvania's 7th.
Friends, enjoy this update from Bob Brooks, another inspiring candidate and known and respected member of their community. Share our conversation with others, hit like so more will see it, consider supporting Bob who is fighting hard in PA-07, and keep working hard all. For we have a country to save, and elections like this one to win, together! - Simon
Bob Brooks has spent his entire life fighting for working families. Whether behind a bar, behind the wheel of a snow plow, or on the floor of the Pennsylvania State Capitol advocating for first responders, Bob has never lost sight of where he comes from or who he’s fighting for.
Bob spent 20 years as a firefighter in the City of Bethlehem. He’s held nearly every position on the truck and every post in his union. As the union President of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, Bob took on the politicians for higher wages, better healthcare, and benefits for all workers. Among his proudest victories is helping lead the fight to pass mental health coverage for firefighters struggling with PTSI – a ten-year battle he refused to give up on.
Bob was raised primarily by a single mom who worked as a bartender to keep food on the table. By the time he turned 30, Bob had already held more jobs than most people do in a lifetime: dishwasher, short-order cook, bartender, landscaper, warehouse worker, pizza delivery driver, and more. He moved to Pennsylvania more than 30 years ago and never looked back.
In 2005, Bob joined the fire department and immediately got involved in his union – to help his fellow workers. Over two decades, he helped negotiate fairer contracts, fought for better healthcare, livable wages, and safer working conditions, and became a voice in Harrisburg for working families across the state.
His work isn’t about politics – it’s about fighting for the people. And Bob’s earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike by being honest, persistent, and never forgetting who he works for.
Bob also runs Brooks Lawn Care, a small family-operated snow removal and lawn care business he started in 2013. Whether plowing driveways at 4 a.m. or mowing lawns after a firefighting shift, Bob has never stopped hustling to provide for his family.
Bob lives in Nazareth with his wife Jen, with whom he has a family of four children – Keith (a volunteer fire chief himself), Austin, Hunter, and Mason – and is a proud grandpa to two granddaughters, Elliana and Lucy. Bob and Jen raise a bulldog named Aspen.
Last year, Bob retired from his dream job – fighting fires. Bob loves working, but has seen too many of his friends work too many shifts to keep up with rising costs. When Congressman MacKenzie once again voted to cut taxes for billionaires, cut health care for his neighbors, and screw working people, Bob decided to run for Congress.
