UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. – U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson stumped for U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie on Wednesday and warned local voters that backing Democrats this election could place the country on "a deadly road."
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District race between Mackenzie and Democratic nominee Bob Brooks is one of the most contested in the nation. The election is among a few capable of determining legislative control in Washington, D.C., and political VIPs swarm the region during federal election years to appeal directly to local voters.
During a visit to Upper Saucon Township Volunteer Fire Department, Johnson painted the race as a consequential one with dire stakes. The Democratic Party, he said, is being consumed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Voting for Brooks or any Democrat, he said, risked putting the country on a path to a communist takeover.
"Socialism and communism is a deadly road. It leads to poverty, destruction, human suffering and sometimes death," Johnson said, blaming experiments with socialism and communism for the deaths of tens of millions of people in the 20th Century.
By comparison, Republicans are campaigning on lowering taxes, cutting regulations and creating business opportunities for everyday Americans, according to Johnson. While gas prices are elevated due to the War in Iran, he said, he was confident that Republican policies were putting the nation on the path to prosperity.
"This election is going to be a choice for the people, a contrast election. I hope that they send this workhorse back because he's done an extraordinary job for Pennsylvania and the 7th District," Johnson said beside Mackenzie.
Firestorm over firefighter remarks
Johnson and Mackenzie arrived at the fire station bearing Wawa hoagies after holding a congressional fundraiser at Saucon Valley Country Club earlier in the day. Johnson, who is the son of a Shreveport, La., firefighter, previously visited Cetronia Ambulance Corp. during a 2024 trip.
Mackenzie used the setting to criticize Brooks, the president of Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association. During his primary campaign in April, Brooks criticized professional firefighters who volunteered in their local fire departments as "scabs" and "sh**bags" on his personal social media campaigns.
Mackenzie in turn highlighted his efforts to support local fire departments, including federal funding he secured for a new fire station in Alburtis. Given Brooks' comments, Mackenzie said it was important to celebrate people who are willing to put their lives on the line for their neighbors.
"We need people in our local community who actually want to represent all of the constituents, not just some," he said.
Shortly after Johnson's tour of the fire department, the Brooks campaign released a statement criticizing Mackenzie and Johnson for stripping healthcare from millions of Americans, driving up the cost of living and supporting the War in Iran that's driven up expenses across the board. The statement did not address his social media post.
"No speech from Mackenzie can change the fact that his time in Congress has been an absolute disaster for the hardworking people of the Lehigh Valley. It’s time we send one of our own, a working person who understands the struggles we face, to fight for us in Congress,” Brooks said.
Brooks saw similar support from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Gov. Josh Shapiro when they visited Bethlehem last month. Jeffries, D-N.Y., used the trip to showcase the Democratic Party's national pitch to voters, arguing Republicans deserve a pink slip for driving up prices with tariffs, an irresponsible war in Iran, and cutting access to social programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
PA-7 represents Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties plus a sliver of Monroe County. Since 2020, every congressional race has been decided by less than 3 percentage points. Mackenzie defeated Democratic incumbent Susan Wild in 2024 by a little more than 4,000 votes.