Bob Brooks
Won the May 19 Democratic primary with 41.0% of the vote
Bob Brooks is a former Bethlehem firefighter (2005-2025) and former president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. He won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary and is running against incumbent Ryan Mackenzie, campaigning on affordability, health care, and opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.[1]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports restoring Medicaid cuts made under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and providing "Medicare for All."[3]
“Healthcare: Restore Medicaid cuts and provide Medicare for All.”
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Says the wealthy should "pay their fair share" and supports enforcing antitrust rules to stop price-gouging.[3]
“We need to take money out of politics, end stock trading in Congress, enforce term limits, and make the wealthy pay their fair share.”
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Supports building more market-rate homes, banning private equity from driving up housing costs, and extending VA-style home loans to essential workers.[3]
“Housing: Build more market-rate homes, ban private equity from driving up costs, and extend VA-style home loans to essential workers.”
- SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care
Supports repealing Head Start cuts and expanding childcare subsidies and publicly funded preschool.[3]
“Childcare: Repeal Headstart cuts, expand subsidies and publicly funded preschool.”
In their words — priorities
- Lists affordability, health care (restoring Medicaid cuts and "Medicare for All"), housing, childcare, and utilities as his three key campaign messages, along with protecting Social Security and enforcing antitrust rules.[3]
- Says he wants to take money out of politics, end stock trading in Congress, enforce term limits, and make the wealthy pay their fair share.[3]
- Names wages, safe working conditions, the social safety net, health care, and affordable housing as the public-policy areas he is most passionate about.[3]
Background
- Worked as a firefighter in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, from 2005 to 2025.[1]
- Elected president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association in 2021.[1]
- Started Brooks Lawn Care, a snow removal and lawn care business, in 2013, and is a youth and varsity baseball coach at Nazareth Area High School.[1]
Campaign money
Raised $2.4M · spent $1.4M · $1.0M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗