"Green Party" Candidate Andrew Tupone Files Nomination Petition in Pa. 07 Congressional Race

Move over, Ryan Mackezie! You, too, Bob Brooks! A third candidate is entering the campaign for Pa. 07's Congressional District. Andrew Tupone, a certified EMT from Bethlehem Township, has filed a nomination petition to run for the Pa. 07 Congressional District as a member of the Green Party.  His petition has been accepted by the Department of State, but it is subject to challenge. (The nomination petition was not available online as of last night, but Tupone has claimed on Facebook that he has more than double the number of signatures needed). 

Before I make a few of my own observations, let me share his campaign announcement, which I received yesterday

Tupone's Campaign Announcement: Today, Andrew Tupone announced that he has filed more than double the required number ct of signatures to qualify for the November ballot as the Green Party candidate for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. He received an outpouring of community support, especially from progressive Democrats who are looking for real change.

Tupone said he decided to enter the race because he believes both parties have failed to truly speak for the people of PA-7 and that voters deserve a true progressive alternative.

"Congressman Mackenzie has been in lock step with Trump and he must be stopped. The national Democratic Party failed to nominate a candidate who speaks to the progressive voters," Tupone said. "After the Democratic National Party put their thumbs on the scale in the primary for Bob Brooks as the nominee, I believe local grassroots voters deserve another choice and that's why so many are backing my candidacy”. That's why I'm running—to offer an independent progressive voice focused on the issues that matter most to the people of Pennsylvania's 7th District - affordability and ending corruption, but also stopping the fascist in the White House, fighting climate change, ending the genocide in Gaza and elsewhere.

Tupone concluded, "There was a major outpouring of support from Democrat voters who are tired of the National Democratic party telling us how to vote, so they put on a flawed candidate in Bob Brooks, who has refused to pay back his own family, and violated state law and did not give his employees workers comp and has made racist statements online and stood against minorities as Hecktown Bar Manager. We need someone who will be more focused on standing up against Donald Trump than running from personal baggage. The stakes in this election are incredibly high" Tupone concluded.

Tupone’s background:

Andrew Tupone grew up in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County. He brings experience across local government - in Northampton County under Lamont McClure - state and federal government, as well as the private sector, where he has worked for small and large businesses.

Andrew’s education includes Freedom High School, Northampton Community College, where he earned an associate degree in Business Administration and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, and Pennsylvania State University, where he studied Business Management.

He is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Pennsylvania and has volunteered his time serving the local community. Andrew has also held membership in several labor unions, including SEIU and the Teamsters.

His stated values include grassroots democracy, community-based economics, decentralization, non-violence, respect for diversity, and personal and global responsibility. A focus on stopping corruption and ending the genocide in Gaza.

Socials:

AndrewforPA.com

Facebook.com/AndrewforPA

instagram.com/andrewforpa

x.com/electandrew

My observations: 

1) If Tupone is able to stay on the ballot, this is going to hurt Brooks and help Mackenzie. Some Democrats are unhappy at the way that Washington and Governor Josh Shapiro inserted themselves into a local race, putting their fingers on the scale. Brooks a won a plurality, but not a majority of Democratic votes.  Although there is less enthusiasm for Brooks than there would be for a candidate who really was selected by a majority of Democrats, I figured Brooks would win anyway. in what should be a November blue wave. A third-party candidate, and one who leans to the left, changes that prediction. Tupone will draw votes from the left end of the spectrum, and it could be enough to defeat Brooks in a purple district. 

2) Is Tupone a put-up? - I have yet to check elections records, but Topne was a Republican. When he ran for Magisterial District Judge in 2015, he was promoted by the Bethlehem Tp GOP Committee.  He lost to Pat Broscius, who swept both sides of the ticket. He managed to win the Republican nomination in 2021, but fell short to Sandra McClure in the general election. According to The Keystone, Tupone was a Republican as recently as 2025  

3) He claims to have worked for Lamont McClure in Northampton County. Actually, before he ever worked in NorCo, Tupone was part of the Panto Parking Police. At the county, he bounced around from 911 dispatcher to elections clerk to an assessor. He tried to get himself appointed as Controller. His employment was terminated in 2021, although the county may have brought him back.

4) Many of Tupone's claims about Brooks have been documented here, by Rich Wilkins and various news outlets. I was aware that he was a bar manager at the Hecktown Fire Company in the early 2000s. That's a private social club. I never heard that he "stood against minorities" while he processed memberships. I would like to know more about this claim, which I find disturbing. 

5) This is an election that cries out for a third candidate. But not Tupone.