Bob Brooks, the Democratic congressional nominee in Pennsylvania endorsed by Bernie Sanders, who opposes the SAVE Act and what he terms as “restricting voting rights,” required identification for entry to his campaign events, leading to at least one person being denied access.
Brooks is vying for a seat in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, a highly competitive district that is again anticipated to be among the most contested in this election cycle.
He has received endorsements from figures like Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Earlier this year, Brooks mentioned to The Morning Call:
“Donald Trump and Washington Republicans are turning to falsehoods about our elections because they’re failing to tackle the rising costs affecting us all. The reality is that Pennsylvania has some of the best-managed elections in the U.S. I oppose the SAVE Act and any measures that restrict voting rights. Instead, I support legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would eliminate partisan gerrymandering, prevent voter suppression, and ban dark money in politics. We should strive to make voting more accessible rather than allowing politicians to constrain it for their own advantage.”
Yet, his campaign mandates ID for those attending events, leading to the denial of entry for some individuals.
“Scumbag Bob Brooks doesn’t care about who votes in our elections but has no problem requiring ID to attend his ritzy campaign events,” remarked Reilly Richardson, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, to Breitbart News. “Pennsylvania voters will hold Brooks accountable for his hypocrisy.”
Brooks previously appeared in a viral March interview with Buttigieg, which gained traction after clips were shared highlighting the duo being “coached on how to be authentic.”
“Remind me the district number again? 7?” Buttigieg asked before the interview.
Brooks is running against the current representative, Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), who criticized him during a speech at the 2026 Republican Convention.
“A far-left nut job named Bob Brooks,” Mackenzie stated. “He was chosen by the Democratic establishment.”
Mackenzie continued, alleging that Brooks had “stolen over $160,000 from his own family and then refused to repay it.”
He added, “Bob Brooks has apologized for supporting the police and shockingly, he even called volunteer firefighters ‘shitbags and scabs’ on his own Facebook page because he claimed they were taking jobs from union firefighters. That’s what crazy looks like.”
Mackenzie went on, “Why would the Democrats support Bob Brooks? Because he serves the interests of the Democratic establishment and left-wing extremists who are financing his campaign. If elected, he has indicated he would repeal the Working Families Tax Cuts, signaling a return to open borders and increased taxes.”
Interestingly, Brooks is not alone among Democrats this election cycle in requiring identification while opposing the SAVE America Act. For instance, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper mandated that attendees at a May campaign event show ID consistent with the RSVP list, despite his previous veto of voter-ID legislation. Similarly, Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) required government-issued ID for a February rally while also opposing the SAVE Act.
Moreover, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) required multiple forms of identification from applicants for paid emergency snow-shoveling jobs while opposing voter-ID requirements. The Obama Presidential Center has similar ID requirements for Illinois residents seeking free admission or discounts on Tuesdays.
During a recent Republican midterm convention in Dallas, President Donald Trump commented on Democratic resistance to voter-ID laws.
“The only reason they’re fighting us is that they want to cheat. There’s no other reason,” Trump asserted. “They come up with all sorts of excuses.”
“They claim, ‘It’s critical not to have a voter ID because it’s extraordinarily difficult for some people,’” Trump added. “They have more excuses than anyone else on the planet.”
