‘DC is a dumpster fire:’ retired firefighter features Shapiro in first congressional primary ad

Bob Brooks has assembled a coalition of unions, organizations, and Democrats from across the political spectrum in his campaign for Congress.

Bob Brooks, a retired fire fighter and union leader running for Congress in the Pennsylvania 7th, rolled out a six-figure television ad-buy in the Philadelphia media market that features Gov. Josh Shapiro. 

“ Republicans in Congress are hurting our families and we have to fight back. That’s why I’m supporting Bob Brooks for Congress,” Shapiro said in the opening seconds of the ad.

The ad rattles off the top endorsements Brooks has received for his campaign, which include US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The spot features Brooks closing out the ad saying “ I’m Bob Brooks, and I approve this message ’cause DC’s a dumpster fire. We’re gonna put it out.”

 

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Brooks spent 20 years working as a firefighter for the City of Bethlehem and serves as President of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association (PFFA), which represents over 8,000 firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) across the commonwealth. 

While working as a firefighter and serving as a union leader, Brooks spent years advocating for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass legislation funding post traumatic stress treatment for first responders, but his opponent, US House Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) stood in the way while serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House. 

“ When we took that for nine years, nine straight years, we fought that, and [Mackenzie] was the guy that stood in my way. He was on the [Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness] Committee, and he constantly kept telling us we didn’t need that coverage,” Brooks said at a campaign event with Buttigieg last month. 

He added “we were legitimately looking to get people help and get them back to work. That was the goal. Keep them from killing themselves honestly, and it didn’t matter. He stood in my way every single time.” 

On top of Sanders and Buttigieg, Brooks has the backing of US Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware), and he has assembled a coalition of support from 15 different labor unions and the Pennsylvania Working Families Party. 

Mackenzie is listed as one of the most vulnerable US House Republicans heading into the 2026 midterm elections, and other candidates looking to replace Mackenzie include Ryan Crosswell, a former US Department of Justice prosecutor, Lamont McClure, former Northampton County executive, and Carol Obando-Derstine, a regional manager for former US Sen. Bob Casey. 

“Having Governor Shapiro’s confidence is an honor I don’t take lightly,” Brooks said in a statement. 

“The Governor has shown time and again that he fights for working families and gets results. His support – and the support of so many leaders across this region and this country – gives me even more fuel to keep working every single day to earn the trust of the people of PA-07.”