U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick defeats anti-abortion activist in Republican primary

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The last Republican member of Congress representing Philadelphia suburbs has survived another primary challenger.

On Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick defeated Mark Houck, a far-right anti-abortion activist, in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District primary race.

Fitzpatrick, a self-described moderate Republican, has represented Bucks County in Congress since 2017. He will face off against Democratic candidate Ashley Ehasz in November’s general election. Ehasz ran unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

The race for the district will double as a rematch for Fitzpatrick and Ehasz, who squared off against each other in the 2022 general election. While Fitzpatrick defeated Ehasz by nine percentage points then, the political landscape of the Philadelphia suburbs continues to shift blue.

Bucks County Democrats have taken control of local row offices, holding a majority of seats on the Board of Commissioners and seizing key school board races.

Democrats hold a slim registration edge in the county, so Fitzpatrick’s appeal as a moderate will be a key factor determining his political future. He’s campaigning on a message of “independent leadership” and bipartisanship.

Ehasz, an Army veteran, who was raised by a single mother believes Democrats are “on the offensive” in this race, especially as she tries to tie down Fitzpatrick on an abortion stance and Donald Trump.

She is campaigning on abortion access, protecting the environment, workers rights, voting rights, student debt and raising the minimum wage.

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