With Sunday marking 100 days until Election Day, Democrats rallied behind retired firefighter Bob Brooks and launched their “Fighting for an Affordable America” campaign for the race’s final stretch at the United Steelworkers union hall in Bethlehem.
“Bob is a firefighter, a union leader, a great family man. He knows what it’s like to work for a living and to fight for your piece of the American Dream. That’s the story of Bob’s life,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said.
READ: ‘Bob’s one of us:’ Dozens of labor unions back Bob Brooks’ campaign
Jeffries appeared with Gov. Josh Shapiro in front of a packed union hall to promote the affordability agenda Democrats plan to use against Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections as they seek to retake the US House.
“ When the president was asked about the state of the economy, he gave himself an A+. Republicans believe the affordability crisis is a hoax,” Jeffries said.
He added, “Republicans don’t give a damn about the personal financial situation of the American people. Republicans have made clear they love inflation. The cost of living is way up. Housing is unaffordable. Gas prices are out of control. Republicans have mismanaged the economy. They don’t deserve an A+ grade. They deserve a pink slip.”
On top of reversing the Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Jeffries wants the next Congress to ban stock trading by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and all members of Congress; a full release of the Epstein files; reforms to the US Supreme Court, and sweeping voting rights reforms to honor the late John Lewis.
READ: A working-class candidate: Bob Brooks sets progressive agenda
As president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, which represents nearly 7,000 first responders throughout the commonwealth, Brooks has energized union workers in the blue-collar district, who see a chance to send one of their own to the halls of Congress.
“ We have been out supporting him since before the primary, out door-knocking and [getting] his name out there and his message that he’s for us, the working people,” Tammy McCoy, a Bethlehem School District cafeteria worker and member of the Pennsylvania Joint Board of United Workers, told The Keystone on Sunday.
“ It would be great to have someone like me in Congress. I could say, ‘he’s pro-union.’ You can’t say that about all of them.”
Brooks is running against US Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) in November’s election. Mackenzie is considered one of the country’s most vulnerable Republicans. As Democrats look to retake the chamber, they are prioritizing the race alongside two other races in Pennsylvania categorized as “toss-ups” by political forecasters.
“ Bob Brooks has spent a lifetime fighting for the middle class, making sure they’ve got more opportunity in life,” Shapiro told the crowd.
“He’s going to go to DC and continue that work, reverse the cruelty, reverse the chaos, and put an end to this corruption that we’re seeing every single day.”
