Bob Brooks wins Democratic primary for U.S. House seat representing Lehigh Valley, will attempt to flip seat

Bob Brooks won the Democratic primary for a U.S. House seat representing the Lehigh Valley, CBS News projects. He will attempt to flip the seat blue in the general election.

Brooks defeated Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine to get the Democratic nod. Brooks won 41.7% of the vote as of Tuesday night with 87% of the votes counted.

"I spent 20 years running into burning buildings as a Bethlehem firefighter because nothing is more important to me than protecting the community I love. I've lived the challenges of regular people, and I know personally what it's like to work multiple jobs at a time just to get by," Brooks said in a statement. "I've worked hard to make it out of the fire, and today I'm honored to stand tall as the Democratic nominee to represent the hardworking men and women of the Lehigh Valley and Carbon County in Congress. This is a victory for every person across our community who has felt left behind, is tired of a broken Washington and is ready to send more working class voices to Congress to fight for us."

In November, Brooks will face Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, the incumbent, who ran unopposed for his party's nod on Tuesday. Mackenzie took office in January 2025.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro endorsed Brooks, a retired Bethlehem firefighter and current union president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.

Croswell is a retired Marine and a former federal prosecutor. McClure is a lawyer and former Northampton County executive. Obando-Derstine, a nonprofit leader who immigrated from Colombia as a child, was endorsed by Susan Wild, a Democrat who previously held the seat. 

The district includes part of Northampton County and Carbon, Lehigh and Monroe counties. 

In the governor's race, Shapiro, a Democrat, and Republican Stacy Garrity, the state treasurer, ran unopposed.