Of the persons running for the Democratic nomination in the Pa. 07 Congressional race, which candidate do you like best and who do you think will win? I've spent the past several months taking shots at pretty much everyone. I've slammed Brooks the most, arguing that his unpaid judgment to family, his MAGA social posts and his willful refusal to list his debt in his Congressional disclosure, makes him simply too shady. I've labeled Ryan Crosswell a recent Republican who only moved here to run. Lamont McClure, the most experienced of the bunch, has also burned a lot of bridges during his 8 years as County Exec, and most recently by calling a Council member's boss in an obvious attempt to pressure her into voting to hand out a tax break for luxury apartments. Finally, Carol Obando-Derstine, the hand-picked choice of former Congressional member Susan Wild, is running on identity politics.
More objective rundowns of these candidates are in Armchair Lehigh Valley (Obando-Derstine, McClure, Crosswell and Brooks).McClure and Crosswell are both quite knowledgeable about specific issues. Brooks and Obando-Derstine are borderline. Despite his recent defection from the GOP, Crosswell has struck me as the sincerest of the candidates. I believe he tries hardest to be honest. Though I don't know him, Brooks strikes me as the most likable. McClure is the most experienced and importantly understands national issues as they impact the Lehigh Valley. Obando-Derstine may be a little uninformed but is intelligent and would bring the perspective of both a woman and a Latina.
I voted last week and my vote was for McClure. But had I waited, as perhaps I should have, I would probably have voted for Crosswell. What McClure did in calling Hellertown's Borough Manager about a TIF in an attempt to pressure a new Council member really soured me. In my view, all candidates can beat Mackenzie now, but the situation will be different in November. I believe Crosswell, as a former Republican and a combat veteran, is a Democrat who would get Republican votes.
Now it's your turn. Who are you voting for and why?
113 comments:
Voting for brooks, I will point out that open comments and on Facebook when all these candidates get brought up very few chose McClure. I think McClure will be last. It’s going to be interesting as there’s so many candidates I feel each has their own support area with backing.
Brooks is very likely to win the primary. The others have split themselves into separate anti Brooks factions and if that’s what the race has become then he’s going to win against 3 candidates. Lamont ran no real campaign after his old manager left because he was too difficult to work with. He hasn’t fundraised but is now being bailed out by a MAGA PAC that’s somewhat suspicious, and we know him to be enough of a scumbag that I can’t rule out this was a plan all along. Crosswell could be running the best overall campaign but he’s still a carpetbagger and a Republican as of 2024. I don’t believe enough Dems in a primary will feel comfortable enough to vote for him. Orbando Derstine is there, not much else to say about her campaign it went no where even with Wild’s support. Haven’t seen one ad or anything for her. For those reason I think the overall push of dozens of national politicians and heavy spending will lead to a Brooks victory somewhere between 35-40% of the vote. And for what it’s worth these days no matter who wins next Tuesday Mackenzie is going to lose in November. This seat is naturally a tilt D, Wild barely lost in an awful year for Dems and after she put her foot in her mouth on multiple occasions. Ryan isn’t half as talented as Wild and much less so than Dent. Gas won’t be down by November at this rate, Trump might sell us out to China, God only knows who he might decide to start a war with in October and the whole time Ryan will smile and support it. The only thing left of the GOP is the MAGA base, everyone else will stay home or push the Dem button to punish Trump. It’s going to be worse than 2006 and 2018 bet on it. Say I have TDS call me a communist loser your insults mean nothing to me and the vast majority of voters who just want an economy that functions and a President that isn’t 80 years old or corrupt.
Crosswell. Honor, integrity, and courage. His past, walking away from Trump's corrupted DOJ and all the security shows his stuff. He is diligent and smart. He will do great. McClure: he IS the bully. Dreadful. Left the budget in shambles. No surprise re calling a boss: McClure is a bully and let's see what happens next on budget. Brookes. He IS MAGA. Who cares about his socioeconomic position. He is duplicitous and he is screwing his family. We have had enough of shady nonsense. Derstine: no experience. Go with the leader with demonstrated integrity and courage along with experience. Bernie, I sure wish you had waited! You threw away your vote.
Crosswell: Demonstrated integrity, courage, and experience. He walked away from DOJ because he refused to compromise and abandon his oath. He has experience and drive. McClure: BULLY, shady--you wait until you find out what a mess he made of NorCo budget so he could "brag" about no new tax. Good luck to CE Zrinski. That 57 million from Gracedale? Bernie, get digging. Brookes: shady as heck--family suing him--MAGA in a worker's clothing. Don't trust him. Derstine: no experience or track record. We need powerful leaders who follow the law and get things done. Not like McClure pretending to work before cocktail hour.
McClure will always be McClure.
No vote.
Nobody. They are all horrible choices.
McClure all the way!!!
I voted for McClure because he has experience and he was a good administrator for the county. What he did to Fadem was not cool but no one is perfect. Brooks is shady but he has some powerful endorsements and a big war chest. Don’t be fooled by Crosswell. He’s a carpetbagger and he’s encouraging people not to support the Democratic Party if he loses the primary. Obando-Derstine does not seem to know very much. She seems to have immigration as her only issue and she speaks in generalities.
Lamont knows it's necessary to run hard, like a black man from Southern Democrats during reconstruction. You used to love Charlie Dent bragging about running hard. What gives with your dislike of McClure for running just as hard?
I was leaning towards McClure, being the only one of the candidates I personally knew. Even though I had issues with how he dealt with the County Conservation District, which, good for it's staff, are now much better off independent of NorCo. And even despite that standoffishness vibe of his. But then those recent ugly mailers that went from nasty to nastier and back again with those graphics of his opponents and now this shit with Helletown Borough. Makes me question him and my leaning towards him even more. I'm all in on Croswell now. Ryan, you have Lamont to thank for this.
This is why I don't like early voting! Lots can happen in the last weeks of a campaign and new information comes out. All four candidates are flawed. In the end I've decided to vote for Crosswell. The more I researched him the more I liked him. The biggest problem with him is he's a carpetbagger, but hey so were many other politicians, including Hillary. He seems like a middle of the road guy, and this is a middle of the road district, not a "progressive" one.
As a moderate Democrat Super Voter in Lehigh County, I'm voting for the best character candidate, Ryan Crosswell. I like that Crosswell served in the Marines, is still an active serviceman and made a major personal sacrifice of giving up his job in the Justice Department instead of sacrificing his principals. I think Bob Brooks is a highly flawed and unlikable candidate who's issues could cost our party in primary if he is the candidate. In fact, I'd keep an open mind about crossing over and voting for McKenzie if Brooks wins the primary. Lastly, I'm extremely disillusioned over Governor Shapiro's support for a candidate like Brooks, it's a bad look for an up and coming national candidate in the party. I've seen a lot of fellow Dems on social media who feel the same way about Shapiro.
I voted for Ryan Crosswell due to a variety of factors including, as you mentioned, his "crossover appeal."
none of the above because Ryan will beat them all
You've got the choice of a crook, a failed, lying exec, a carpetbagger and a never heard of her wannabe. Is this the best the dems can do? Laughable. RM retains his seat.
None of them. It’s interesting watching that party kick its own butt.
I don't dislike McClure for running hard. I do dislike his attempt to intimidate a county council member in a vote about a tax break. I dislike even more how he explained it to LVNews. That had nothing to do with his election. That has everything to do with governance.
I love the negative mailers and I don't know why people will not vote for the person who sends them. Anyone can say exactly what people want to hear and be all nicey nice. Self righteous people are so fake and the Dems have plenty of those! When negative flyers are sent exposing the skeletons in the closet with sources to research whether they are truthful, well that's what I want to know so I can determine whether they deserve my vote.
Seems like McClure is the only one without any dirt on him and he has my support 100%.
As an Independent, I’m not voting this month. But, if any one of these Democrat candidates wins the nomination, and one of them will, of course, I’ll be voting for Mackenzie.
Politicians have a brain that is demented they will never solve our problems they are in office for themselves.
"This is why I don't like early voting! Lots can happen in the last weeks of a campaign and new information comes out."
It should be banned. Same day voting makes for a cohesive choice by all and all has been aired out.
It is the equivalent of showing up to trail with a verdict in hand without hearing all of the evidence.
McClure has the best chance of winning and the most knowledge of government.
Imagine Brooks dealing with six months of attack ads.
Crosswell is a party switcher and not from here. He has credentials.
Obando-Derstine has barely run a campaign.
Where are all the smart accomplished people? We have fallen far and this is what we get.
The only liar in le Affaire Fadem is Fadem. She wasn’t literally pressured. She acknowledged that in print. She didn’t feel pressure either. She and Vargo Heffner made up a story to benefit Vargo Heffner’s preferred candidate Crosswell. Crosswell who Carol Obando Derstine has told people was brought here by Murat Guzel. Google Murat. Guess who Murat’s Girl Friday is ? Fadia Halma. Fadia Halma bestie and sorority sister of Lori Vargo Heffner. Ask Carol she’ll tell you. How would Murat have met Crosswell ? Integrity ? Please.
The next Congress will have to tackle this administration's corruption through investigation and legislation. Crosswell is the candidate best able to do that.
7:54, She was not "literally" pressured but was nonetheless pressured. McClure called her boss about the tax break for a TIF in Wilson Boro, 10 miles away. The sole reason he would call Fadem's boss is to use that employer-employee relationship to make Fadem feel pressured even though she was not literally pressured. Had she been literally pressured, it would be a crime. The fact that no law was broken is no excuse for this behavior. As far as Murat is concerned, I know him and I know he is a self-made man who came here from Turkey with nothing and built a natural food empire. I know he is a strong supporter of Democrats and is also quite philanthropic. He is a good man. I see no reason to attack him simply bc he is not in the McClure camp.
Ryan Crosswell has never lived in the Lehigh Valley. To date he still has D.C. license plates.
Ryan Crosswell was a Republican until December of 2024. He did not quit the Trump Justice Department when the Mueller Report found that Russia interfered in the 2016 to get Trump elected.
The republicans have real problems, but so do Democrats. There is literally a war going on in the D party right now between the sane and insane. We just had a democrat supreme court justice, David Wecht, leave the party over the antisemitism, the embrace of socialism and communism that is taking hold in the D party. Look at Fetterman, a traditional D liberal, he's ready to leave also. Alan Dershowitz has left, a long time D supporter. The jew hatred has really taken hold. Look at this clown up in Maine, he's got a Nazi tattoo and it looks like he may win a senate seat. It's ridiculous!!!!
Be sure to clearly identify what corruption you speak of, friend.
I like Crosswell because he's cool with men in girls' sports and spaces. He also knows that men can become pregnant. Smart guy and a patriot.
Ryan Crosswell is a Republican. When neo-Nazis killed a woman in Charlottesville, VA., and Trump said, “there were many fine people on both sides”, Crosswell didn’t quit Trump’s DOJ then.
Experience ✅
Fearless ✅
Gumption ✅
Proven record ✅
Successful ✅
Worthy ✅
McClure 🗳️💯✅
Even though he's a carpetbager, Cromswell is by far the most qualified and has worked very hard. McClure is very unlikeable & Brooks has too much baggage.
McClure isn’t attacking Murat. Murat has been very supportive of McClure through the years. Carol Obando Derstine is telling people that Murat brought Crosswell to the Valley. She is asking how Murat and Crosswell met ?
I agree 100%
McCluless has shown his true colors and should be sent packing. BTW, his commercials are embarrassing!
Crosswell is a carpetbagger. Vote Brooks !
Could you tell me what mackenzie has done since e in the position that you dont like?
Brooks has Bernie Sanders backing. How can you say he is "maga"?
No "dirt" ...that's hysterical. You need to research a little
McClure should be ashamed of himself- Croswell for the win.
McClure was not as good of an administrator as he seemed. A lot of it was smoke and mirrors as we found out with his final budget. COVID through everything for a loop but instead of addressing long standing issues with the County's finances he shuffled money around inappropriately and passed an irresponsible tax cut. His call to Fadem's manager was not an isolated behavior either. Many county employees got "the call" from either him or or his subordinates. Bad stuff, he should stick to private practice.
Oh yeah let's spend all our legislators time investigating and getting nothing done. Don't u see the problem with that?
Is Brooks best ? Ryan Crosswell did not leave the Republican Party after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. He stayed registered Republican and kept voting in Republican primaries. Carol maybe ? Definitely not Lamont as Bernie has given him the KOD.
That Charlottesville event started out as a crowd of about 150 people who gathered there to protesting the planned removal of a Civil War monument. I watched the whole thing live.
Trump’s remark about the gathering (good people on both sides) was to appease BOTH sides of the disagreement. A very predictable and harmless remark that has been blown WAY out of proportion by the Trump haters. People should have put that all to rest by now.
Wait until the waste-of-time impeachment hearings begin! That could last several months of needless hearing as posturing in front of the cameras. All done rather than actual legislative work.
Look, even if impeached, Trump (like Clinton) is NOT leaving office until his term would regularly expire. Not enough votes for that severe step. But, if somehow he would leave early, you get Vance as President. So, again, any impeachment effort is a certain waste of time and of our tax dollars.
I kept trying to post with my tRump phone but the string broke after hitting publish so now I’m on my iPhone. Crosswell is not a cross country carpetbagger as some state, he’s a Pottsville native (Yuengling) and is the best candidate to bring back democracy!
Crosswell kept working for Trump after the January 6, 2020 Trump inspired Insurrection. If that wasn’t your limit, you’re not a Democrat. He also stayed a registered Republican and kept voting in Republican primaries.
I'm voting McClure. Brooks and Croswell are DINOs (plus Croswell is a carpetbagger, something I cannot stand)
Hold the primary and see what the polls look like in August. Then, slot in (or not) the best candidate at that time. Voters will understand. Primaries are a dumb way to pick a nominee when you're trying to win in November.
And he played Bernie like a Stradivarius.
Smooth ✅
Slick ✅
Sometimes Honest ✅
Made Gracedale Great Again ✅
Brooks is a CROOK! Crosswell is a Republican. Ocando has no experience. McClure for the win!
As a registered voter in Lehigh County who grew up in Pittsburgh, should I stay home then since I'm a "carpetbagger" voter?? That's your logic for voting for Brooks??
I heard it was McClure who was telling people it was Murat who brought Crosswell to the Valley. McClure's great at finding dirt on people. He's done that in all other campaigns.
I voted for Carol Obando-Derstine. I was planning on voting for McClure, but he hand picked a very underqualufied Tara Zrinski for County Executive as well as continually screwed over Northampton County Human Services employees. The other two are cloaked DINOs with strong allegiance to MAGA. No thank you!
Brooks will win the primary and the general, but he won't have my vote.
Good grief! That was NOT an insurrection. It was a protest that was driven out of control by outside agitators intervening. You know, like shooting flash bang cartridges directly on the middle of a screaming crowd of protesters, causing the crowd to burst outwards including forward.
The front doors to the Capital dome were opened wide by the police who actually waved people in! Watch the videos.
Correct!
Anyone but McClure !
McClure. Proven. Able to handle the complex issues in Washington.
Voting for Brooks, my son played baseball for him at Nazareth and despite what has been reported I know him to be a stand up guy. A real working class person, unlike trust fund baby Fetterman. He has warts but I think that comes with being from not a polished background like the others.
Voted to cut the most money ever from our healthcare systems and against extending the ACA premiums, voted to enshrine Trump's ridiculous tariff regime, voted against holding ICE accountable for mass deportations and in my opinion most importantly, voted twice to allow Trump's war in iran to continue. We'll all be feeling the pinch from those decisions for years.
Progressive means high taxes, boys in girls restroom, killing babies and plenty more.
I got a bridge to sell you if you think any these people will solve any of our many problems
Lehigh county democrats want wealth tax look out Northampton your democrats will go for it too.
McClure brags he is a progressive you must have issues if you vote for a progressive
So there were some fine Nazis there?
His experience is toxic. He bullied county employees like he did Fadem. He also tanked the budgets. He should be disqualified because of that phone call.
Talk to a county employee… he has serious dirt… he bullies people to get his way
Crosswell was a member of the Federalist Society and an adjunct professor at the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason. It’s considers itself a hotbed of Conservative legal thought.
Brooks is a phony $3 bill.
Can’t think of a single time he didn’t really just go with the party. BBB is awful reports are coming in 140k in PA are dropping healthcare due to costs since nothing was put in place of the subsidy the concepts of a plan still have yet to be seen. Never stood up to Trump against his overreach on war powers or any of the other dumb shit going on like the new desire for 1 billion for the ballroom. He’s not bipartisan or independent or even a representative of the district he’s just a trump ass kisser. Can you tell me what Mackenzie has done that I SHOULD like? (I don’t care about grants that were already in the works)
No, of the original crowd who gathered there to debate the removal of certain historic statues, persons from BOTH sides made points worthy of everyone’s consideration. As for the throngs of disrupters bused in to capitalize on the moment from surrounding streets, I have no opinion other than to say legal limits on behavior were certainly violated.
Gasp!!! He believes in the Constitution, unlike Ketanji Brown Jackson, who’s so bad that fellow liberals Kagan and Sotomayer are not happy with her lol.
It’s ok to cause billions in damage and take over downtown Seattle I’m sure. Attack the White House and they had to bring Trump down in the bunker. Nothing to see there folks move along.
A bully that drinks too much scotch lol.
Will the put fat boy Nadler in charge again?? Oh wait I think he retired. The man is a disgrace!
He’s the dirtiest of the bunch lol.
The Medicaid cuts weren’t cuts. They were temporarily increased with COVID as an excuse. That’s why there was an expiration date. Dems did that intentionally to hammer republicans who didn’t vote to extend it. I think Mackenzie did defy Trump and voted with the Dems if I recall. I think Bernie had a post about it.
Don’t forget hating cops and loving criminals.
I would like to hear more about this MAGA PAC supporting McClure. I find it interesting. Do Rs think he’d be the easiest to beat? Why else would the MAGAs do that?
Very interesting to know that seiu has endorsed Mr Brooks considering as an seiu member I know for a fact that the union president of 32bj city of Bethlehem had made multiple accusations to the mayor about the bethlehem fire department which has resulted in less and less hirings
Not as phony as the seiu president who so called endorsed him considering he talks to mayor about firefighters and not in a good way
If I could vote in the election AND was taking it seriously, McClure.
If I could vote in the election and was not taking it seriously, Brooks.
Who I actually am voting for, Taiba Sultana.
By the looks of McClure in his ads he’s eating well.
How did McClure take on Trump and ICE?
The pickings are slim, but Croswell has been the only 1 who has impressed me. Whoever wins, my Party needs a clear message, other than "Trump bad," and end this love affair with the crazy fringe! Packing the Supreme Court, ending the Electoral College, boys in girls locker rooms, are all losing issues!
9:46 - And Vance could serve the remainder of Trump’s term PLUS 2 terms of his own. Think about that.
You mean when the mueller report found that there was NO collusion between Trump and the Russians? Yup.
As a Republican, I’d love to see Bob Brooks or Lamont McClure become the nominee. Regardless, Ryan Mackenzie is a fierce competitor. He knows the district. He knows how to win.
he's a disgrace!
Brooks is a loser! He looks like Baby Hughie on his Harley!
Ketanji Brown is the most unqualified jurisdiction in the Country, and should be impeached!
He did vote to extend. Democrats just lie these days or talk without knowing facts. It was a temporary measure. Honestly im tired of paying high health care bills now on medicare when those loans cost people with great salaries almost nothing. They should have gone but they're extended anyway
McClure has paid his dues, and is the Democrat I know in the race. Lamont it is for this Democrat.
It wouldn't be the first time the incompetent Bernie Sanders comms team has endorsed a Maga.
McClure is an obvious Bully that has had his way far too long. Brooks just doesn't have it to be Congressman Brooks. Far too much baggage. That leaves a woman whose best qualification is that she is a woman, or Crosswell, a life long Republican. McClure would be like Richard Nixon. Sorry, My vote goes to Crosswell even though he is a "R" deep down inside, he will knuckle under or he will be a one timer. Crosswell gets my vote.
Crosswell gets my vote. Talked to the man at length on a few occasions as he went everywhere in the Valley. He's smart and worked hard to get to meet people and listen and learn.
I am sick of McClure and his cult followers attacking the county council woman who was the victim of his usual bully behavior. This has been an ongoing problem with him. Yet the cult of followers is like maga. It has been said behind closed doors that McClure is the Trump of the county. His way or the highway. He and his followwrs aRE MEAN, JUAST ASK DASOEM FO TH EPEOPLE
Lamont McLure will be getting my vote.
mama's boy and career politician. and a.putz.
Brooks is the guy, imo the stories about him may raise some questions about his personal life, but I like his platform the most and trust the organizations and elected officials who have endorsed him's opinion on who can win in November.
I don't trust Crosswell the former GOP prosecutor who unions have said his firm was combative towards.
Obando-Derstine I like but doesn't seem to have gotten much traction in fundraising, polling, or endorsements.
McClure's TIF move and him deciding to go negative very late after his fundraising dried up and a pac came in to support him to attack Brooks and Crosswell in his favor just puts me off.
Just got another mailer from the Lead Left PAC supporting Lamont. It’s Republican dark money.
I am so glad I did not decide to vote by mail. I was going to vote for McClure, but after his TIF bullying I will not Vote for him. I think it is a stain on the County that he is still there, especially as a solicitor, considering his underhanded tricks. I voted for Zrinski once, but will not again if he’s still there.
If McClure gets the nomination. The Republican is sure to beat him.
You haven’t looked at what he left the county with the inability to balance the upcoming budget. You need to speak to the employees there he is not well liked. No one is going to vote for him.
Yes, McClure has the most knowledge of a government that he ran into the ground and made this county executive scrambling to find funds to pay for stuff. He’s not good at his job.
Your TIF story on McClure instantly made me realize I would not be voting for him. I hadn't given thought to the candidates prior to that, and after researching them I decided to vote for Brooks. The judgment didn't mean much to me. I can't give good reasons why, I just liked him the best of the other three.
There is nothing wrong with early voting, to the other comment left on yours. I don't need to be "cohesive" with anyone else's vote. I did my research, made my choice, and my vote was submitted. Hey, I voted for that disgraced and convicted Attorney General we had some years ago - and by the time of election day, no one still had any idea what she would end up doing. Two weeks made no difference.
Gaslighting. Been going on for a very long time now. Cause people don't have eyes to see their lies I guess.
Crosswell all day -- We need someone young and smart and legally knowledgeable.
Folksy is nice, but intelligence and some knowledge of how the constitution works will get my vote. Crosswell all the way.
McClure. Crosswell made no attempt to convince me he's not a Republican sympathizer.
Post a Comment