Bob Brooks, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, has withdrawn from the only debate scheduled between the two candidates this election cycle.
The withdrawal comes as Brooks faces a series of reports about his past conduct and public statements. According to U.S. News & World Report, Brooks referred to volunteer firefighters as “scabs” and used a vulgar slur against them on social media. The outlet also reported that Brooks was allegedly a steward at a social club that had an unofficial whites-only policy, and that his Facebook account had featured far-right imagery.
Brooks’s campaign has also faced criticism over his debate preparation, with reports describing him as needing coaching on how to come across as relatable to voters and noting that he has occasionally misspoken in public settings.
Mackenzie, the Republican incumbent, had been set to face Brooks in the matchup before Brooks’s team pulled out. No rescheduled debate has been announced.
PA-7, which covers parts of the Lehigh Valley, is considered one of the more closely watched House races in Pennsylvania heading into the 2026 midterms.
