NBC News reports that control of the House of Representatives could come down to four battleground races in Pennsylvania, and the 1st District in suburban Philadelphia is one of them. Roll Call reports that Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie won the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, whom it describes as a longtime party target and a rare House Republican to hold a seat that Kamala Harris carried in 2024. NBC News reports that Democrats have repeatedly tried and failed to unseat him.
The Associated Press, in wire copy carried by PBS News, reports that Fitzpatrick won by 13 percentage points in 2024 while Harris won the district by less than a point. In 2022 he won by about 10 points, and in 2020 he carried the district by about 13 points while Joe Biden won it by about 5 points, the AP reports. CBS News reports that Bucks County has made up most of the district since 2019 and last elected a Democrat to the House in 2006, when voters unseated Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, Brian Fitzpatrick's late brother. CBS News also reports that Republicans held all but one of the county's 12 elected seats when Fitzpatrick first won, and that Democrats now hold 11 of them.
The Associated Press describes Fitzpatrick as a five-term incumbent and reports that he holds an MBA and a law degree, worked as an FBI special agent and an assistant U.S. attorney, and practiced as a lawyer and accountant before running for the seat his brother had held. The AP reports that he voted against President Trump's tariffs, his signature tax legislation and his power to wage war against Iran without congressional approval, and that he skipped Trump's recent midterm convention in Dallas.
Harvie is a former social studies teacher who has twice been elected countywide as a commissioner, the Associated Press reports. CNN reports that he was elected countywide in 2019 and 2023 and has argued that he is a stronger candidate than past challengers because he is from the district. CBS News reports that both men grew up in the southern part of Bucks County, where their childhood parishes are a six-mile drive apart. CNN reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro supported Harvie in the primary. Roll Call reports that Harvie, Bob Brooks, Paige Cognetti and Janelle Stelson, Democrats seeking to flip four Pennsylvania House seats, have announced a joint fundraising committee.
The Associated Press reports that Fitzpatrick has disbursed nearly $5 million, according to Federal Election Commission records. The AP also reports that many negative ads claim Harvie is under FBI investigation, which he denies, and that he has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against a super PAC running some of the ads. According to the suit, Harvie was called to testify as a witness in an FBI inquiry into local government, and his attorneys say he has never been charged, the AP reports. CNN identifies Republican strategist Chris Pack as running a super PAC backing Fitzpatrick. As of Sept. 21, the AP reported that no debate had been scheduled.
Harvie described his decision to run in an interview with the Associated Press this summer.
“The lack of trust in our government, the lack of trust in each other and seeing each other as enemies based just on, you know, the color of your skin, the religion you practice, who you voted for.”
Harvie spoke with the Associated Press about his background in the district.
“I'm not somebody who needs to be reintroduced or introduced to people of this district. And that's very, very different than any race he's ever run before.”
Harvie spoke with CBS News for a report on Catholic voters in Bucks County while he was seeking the Democratic nomination.
“Brian Fitzpatrick can talk all he wants about how upset he is with Donald Trump, but I haven't yet seen him cast a vote that matters when it comes to stopping Trump's agenda.”
Harvie spoke with CBS News for the same report on Catholic voters in Bucks County.
“People will come out and vote if Trump is on the ballot. But they won't come out and vote if he's not.”
Fitzpatrick spoke in an episode of a podcast he launched this year with Rep. Tom Suozzi, as reported by the Associated Press.
“People are sick and tired of the noise. They're sick and tired of elected officials not being focused on the kitchen table issues that people really care about.”
Fitzpatrick was asked about his votes on the Iran war powers resolution during a PBS NewsHour interview with Amna Nawaz.
“So, as soon as we hit that 60-day mark, every resolution that's been brought to the floor, I have supported. It's just a simple, basic matter of following the law.”
Fitzpatrick was asked to respond to the president's criticism of House Republicans who voted for the Iran war powers resolution during a PBS NewsHour interview.
“I report to no person or no party in Washington, D.C. I work for the people back home in Bucks and Montgomery Counties of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania's First Congressional District. They're my bosses.”
Fitzpatrick spoke with CBS News for a report on Catholic voters in Bucks County after the president's remarks about Pope Leo XIV.
“I am not a fan of any divisive rhetoric ever, particularly when it's targeted at any religious leader.”
Fitzpatrick was asked by CBS News about a statement from Harvie on his record, for the same report on Catholic voters in Bucks County.
“You condemn the statement, which I did. And you introduce a War Powers Resolution, which I did.”
Platforms are on the candidates' own sites, linked above.