Bob Brooks defeated Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure, and Carol Obando-Derstine in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District on May 19. Brooks will face incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in the Nov. 3 general election. Three independent race forecasters rated the general election as a toss-up.

NBC News' Dylan Ebs and Melanie Jackson wrote that the primary was "a crowded microcosm of the different approaches Democrats are taking to appeal to voters, define their party and frame themselves as strong candidates in the age of President Donald Trump."

In 2024, Mackenzie, then a state legislator, defeated then-Rep. Susan Wild (D) 50.4%-49.4%. That election had the smallest margin of victory of any U.S. House race in Pennsylvania in 2024 and the eighth-smallest margin nationwide. Media outlets considered the district a regional and national bellwether. Trump won the district by 51.1%-47.9% in the 2024 presidential election. In 2022 and 2020, Wild won with margins of less than five percentage points. Daily Kos also calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 49.7%-49.1%.

Below is a background on each Democratic primary candidate. To read more about how Ballotpedia defines noteworthy candidates, click here.

• Brooks was a firefighter in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. Governor Josh Shapiro (D), U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D), Pete Buttigieg (D), as well as the Working Families Party, the SEIU state council, and the International Association of Fire Fighters endorsed Brooks. Brooks described himself as a member of the working class and said that his opponents are career politicians. His campaign website said, "The number one issue I hear from my neighbors and friends is how unaffordable life is. Frankly, it’s the reason I got into this race. Working people can’t keep up with groceries, electricity bills, rent, healthcare, childcare, you name it. Wages aren’t keeping pace, and too many are working harder than ever for too small a paycheck."
• Crosswell was a federal prosecutor for 10 years and a Marine. He highlighted his resignation from the Justice Department in February 2025 as part of his campaign. Crosswell resigned in response to the Trump administration's decision to drop corruption charges against then-New York City mayor Eric Adams (D). U.S. Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.) and VoteVets endorsed Crosswell. Crosswell's campaign website said, "As a Marine and then a federal prosecutor, I’ve spent my life in service to this country. But when Donald Trump tried to get the prosecutors in my section to use the Department of Justice as a weapon against his enemies, that was something I would never do, so I stepped down. And now, I’m fighting back."
• McClure was a former Northampton County executive. Bethlehem mayor Bob Donchez, Northampton County Council member Kelly Keegan, and Lehigh Valley Labor Council President Jim Irwin endorsed McClure. McClure ran on his record in local government. His campaign website said, "Whether I was fighting the world's largest corporations and their insurance companies on behalf of Steelworkers and other Trades people, who through no fault of their own were sickened by asbestos, or while on Northampton County Council battling to protect the elderly residents of our nursing home from being sold out to a for profit corporation, or as County Executive taking on the opioid manufacturers who caused so much death and devastation through the fentanyl crisis, I've always been a fighter on your side against the powerful interests."
• Obando-Derstine was a senior advisor to former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D). Her other career experience included being an engineer, nonprofit executive director, and community college professor. Wild, U.S. Reps. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), and EMILY'S List endorsed Obando-Derstine. Obando-Derstine's campaign website said, "In Congress, Carol will focus on lowering costs for working families, expanding access to affordable health care, supporting small businesses, leading a transition to a clean energy future that benefits our district, and standing up to the reckless agenda coming out of Washington."

Brooks and Obando-Derstine completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to see their responses.

Click here to learn more about the Democratic primary and here to learn more about the general election.