At Heartland Signal, we want to be sure voters are informed heading into the midterm elections. Accordingly, we’re creating a series where we offer voters in those districts a look at the two candidates and their stances on issues that matter most to voters right now.

Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District

Incumbent: Ryan Mackenzie (Republican)

District geography: Lehigh Valley

Last election (2024):

Candidate	Party	Votes	Percent
Ryan Mackenzie	Republican	203,688	50.4
Susan Wild	Democrat	199,626	49.4

At a glance: Incumbent Ryan Mackenzie has faced criticism for a lack of candor about his background and record. Now, he’s facing a challenge from local firefighter Bob Brooks, who is the Democratic nominee for the seat.

Candidate information

Q: Who is running to represent Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District?

A: Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie is running against Democratic challenger Bob Brooks.

Q: What’s Ryan Mackenzie’s background?

A: Ryan Mackenzie is a Lehigh Valley native who, after attending New York University and Harvard, has spent most of his career as a politician. However, he has been accused of fabricating his age and elements of his resume.

Q: What’s Bob Brooks’ background?

A: Bob Brooks has lived in Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. Raised by a single mother, he worked at a variety of jobs, including dishwasher, short-order cook, bartender, landscaper, warehouse worker and pizza delivery driver, all before becoming a firefighter. This is his first run for public office.

Issues: Health care

Q: Does Ryan Mackenzie want to make health care better?

A: Ryan Mackenzie voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which contained significant cuts to Medicaid and hamstrung Medicare’s ability to offer savings programs and negotiate drug prices. However, before the vote, Mackenzie said he would protect Medicaid beneficiaries and still says that he’s focused on improving Medicare. He also flip-flopped on his support for the Affordable Care Act, at one point calling it “an infringement on our rights.”

Q: Does Bob Brooks want to make health care better?

A: Bob Brooks fought for insurance to cover more health care while leading his firefighter union chapter. He says this informed his political priorities, and that as a congressman he would work toward getting health care for every American.

Issues: Costs and tariffs

Q: Is Ryan Mackenzie trying to make things cheaper?

A: Ryan Mackenzie supports the Iran War and appears to believe that it is not increasing the cost of living. In truth, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has found that it has led to increased inflation. He also repeatedly voted to support the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump that have increased the cost of everyday items. He says he wants to lower inflation through tax cuts, though increasing the deficit can also lead to inflation.

Q: Is Bob Brooks trying to make things cheaper?

A: Bob Brooks says if elected, his goal will be to end the Iran War as soon as possible in the hopes that it brings down inflation. He also opposes across-the-board tariffs but wants more targeted measures that would protect critical domestic industries. He also wants to build more power plants (gas, renewable and nuclear) and market-rate housing to make utilities and rent cheaper.

Issues: Data centers and energy bills

Q: Will Ryan Mackenzie stop data centers?

A: Ryan Mackenzie voted to give data center developers a $2 billion tax break while serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. And in Congress, he also voted to ban state and local governments from placing restrictions on data centers when he voted for the House version of the One Big Beautiful Bill. He has since called on data centers to pay their fair share.

Q: Will Bob Brooks stop data centers?

A: Bob Brooks’ priority is preserving local control over the decision whether or not to build a data center. He also thinks that they should not increase bills for the people in surrounding communities. However, he does not appear to support a ban on them.

Issues: Ethics and accountability

Q: Will Ryan Mackenzie fight corruption?

A: Ryan Mackenzie faced a number of questions after receiving a $2,600 donation from a felon who went to prison for his involvement in a lobbying scandal only for him to be pardoned by Donald Trump days later. And while he served in the Pennsylvania state House, he voted against bills that would require politicians to disclose more about their donors and make it easier for voters to see who is funding campaigns.

Q: Will Bob Brooks fight corruption?

A: One of Bob Brooks’ top priorities in this election is getting corporate money out of politics. He also wants to put a stop to corrupt acts like Trump accepting a $400 million jet from Qatar and firing inspectors general.

Issues: Manufacturing jobs

Q: What’s Ryan Mackenzie’s plan to bring back manufacturing?

A: Local media have noted that jobs do not appear to be one of Mackenzie’s priorities.The tariffs that Ryan Mackenzie supported appear to have cost the 7th District manufacturing jobs, as Mack Trucks announced it had to cut 250 to 350 jobs from their Macungie plant owing to tariff-related sales losses.

Q: What’s Bob Brooks’ plan to bring back manufacturing?

A: Bob Brooks wants to fund more apprenticeships and trade programs to help train Lehigh Valley’s manufacturing, construction and energy workforces. It’s also part of his plan to build more power plants (gas, renewable and nuclear) and market-rate housing to make utilities and rent cheaper.