Brooks Flips Pennsylvania's 7th District to Democrats
Democrat Bob Brooks is projected to defeat incumbent Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the Pennsylvania congressional race.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Decision Desk HQ projects Democrat Bob Brooks will defeat Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, flipping the seat from Republican to Democrat. With 19 percent of precincts reporting, Brooks leads 65 percent to 34.9 percent.
Why it matters
The result changes the party control of a Pennsylvania House seat and ousts Mackenzie after only one term in Congress. The outcome reflects a shift in the district's partisan alignment at the state level.
The projection is based on 19 percent of precincts reporting, with Brooks at 65 percent and Mackenzie at 34.9 percent. Final certified totals were not yet available at the time of the projection.
The players
Bob Brooks
Bob Brooks is a Democrat and former Bethlehem firefighter who retired last year after 20 years of service and runs Brooks Lawn Care.
Ryan Mackenzie
Ryan Mackenzie is the Republican U.S. representative who served one term for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District before being projected to lose the seat.
Decision Desk HQ
Decision Desk HQ is a national election-results and data organization that issued the projection of the race.
The details
Brooks, a former firefighter in Bethlehem for 20 years who runs the family-operated Brooks Lawn Care business founded in 2013, received endorsements from Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, and Reps. Chris Deluzio, Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan. His campaign focused on raising the minimum wage, expanding healthcare, securing the border and protecting the community from data centers.
Timeline
- November 4, 2026: Decision Desk HQ projects Brooks defeating Mackenzie.
Political Context
The projection reverses Republican control of Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, a seat Mackenzie held for a single term. Supporters of the result point to Brooks's endorsements from state and federal Democrats as a factor in the outcome.
The seat's representation in Congress changes if the projection holds, affecting constituents in Pennsylvania's 7th District. Voters in the district will see a Democrat representing them in place of the incumbent Republican.
The takeaway
A single flipped congressional seat can shift the balance of representation for an entire district, so voters should watch the final certified results. Checking official returns once counting finishes gives the clearest picture of the outcome.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Elections section for Pennsylvania.
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