Bucks County Democrat Bob Harvie is throwing his hat in the ring to challenge popular GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in 2026.
Political professionals say it’s likely to be a campaign of contrasts between Republican Fitzpatrick, named the most bipartisan member of Congress, and Harvie, who’s been an unapologetic partisan as while serving on the Bucks County Board of Commissioners.
“Bob Harvie looks to be a high-profile challenger. He is likely to attract a lot of financial backing as a result,” said Temple University political science Professor Robin Kolodny. “Having said that, Brian Fitzpatrick has managed to overperform in a Democratic-leaning district for some time.”
A teacher by trade, Harvie is a former Falls Township supervisor who was first elected to the county board of commissioners in 2019. He has been its chair since 2022.
“Brian Fitzpatrick has failed to stand up for us—his silence and inaction is unacceptable. We need a leader who will actually fight for our future. I’ve seen firsthand what bad policies from Washington do to our communities,” Harvie said in a statement.
During his time as chair, the county commission has faced multiple controversies. For example, Harvie and fellow Democratic Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia made national headlines last November after allowing the counting of ineligible ballots in the 2024 election. The state Supreme Court had ordered those ballots not to be counted.
“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” Ellis-Margeglia said afterward. “People violate laws any time they want.”
She later apologized.
Harvie and Ellis-Marseglia were also criticized for silencing county health department director Dr. David Damsker in order to close schools longer than necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. They sued two mothers who sought county records through right-to-know requests. The Democratic commissioners additionally hired a political operative as the director of policy and communications.
And just last week, a judge criticized Harvie and his fellow commissioners for using “sneaky” tactics to slip approval of a climate-activism lawsuit through county government without public oversight.
Juliana Winberg, who chairs the Falls Township Republican Committee, said the township has numerous financial issues stemming from Harvie’s tenure on the board. She noted the FBI has investigated township officials, although Harvie has denied that he was a target of that investigation.
Harvie is a “controversial person” who is “not greatly loved in Falls Township,” Winberg said. “I think he got a lot of votes because of the letter after his name.”
Fitzpatrick, a Republican who co-chairs the Problem Solvers Caucus, was named the most bipartisan Republican in 2024, according to The Hill. Fitzpatrick easily twice beat Democratic challenger Ashley Ehasz, a relatively unknown candidate. But with Harvie, Fitzpatrick faces a more experienced competitor.
And veteran Democratic strategist TJ Rooney told DVJournal Harvie may have an unexpected ally on his side in 2026: President Donald Trump.
“If President Trump continues to run our economy into the ditch, members like Congressman Fitzpatrick will be left holding the bag. No amount of solid constituent service can make up for getting run over by the Trump Pain Train. Recent history suggests that might be our best hope for beating him,” Rooney said.
Kolodny offered a similar warning for Republicans.
“If Fitzpatrick does something that looks like he is putting Trump’s agenda above the district’s interests, that could hurt the reputation he has built for being independent. It will be an interesting 18 months,” she said.
Bucks County Republicans note that, since Harvie first won office, the county’s party registration has flipped from a Democrat advantage to the GOP. Bucks County now has 10,126 more Republicans than Democrats, according to state records.
And, says Bucks County GOP Chair Pat Poprik, Harvie’s record will be a tough sell for Democrats.
“Throughout his time as Bucks County commissioner, Harvie has consistently worked to bring a far-left progressive ideology to Bucks County and has failed to deliver positive results for working families,” said Poprik. “We’re confident that the voters of the First Congressional District will see Harvie for what he is: a hyper-partisan career politician. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has a clear record of representing the values of this district and has always served all the people of this community. In contrast, Bob Harvie has only served the Democrat Party’s agenda.”
Harvie is already under attack from the pr0-Fitzpatrick “Defending America PAC.”
“Bob Harvie is an embarrassment to himself and an embarrassment to us all. He’s a do-nothing partisan hack who has spent over two decades running for office while thumbing his nose at the middle class,” said Defending America PAC spokesman Chris Pack. “We’re excited to hold Harvie accountable and watch him explain the FBI’s corruption investigation into his criminal conduct, along with his many other politically disqualifying flaws.”
Harvie did not respond to requests for comment.
Republican pundit Guy Ciarrocchi, who ran for Congress in Chester County, said, “Sadly, Bob Harvie’s candidacy for Congress represents an attempt to fail-upward. Having failed as commissioner—publicly and repeatedly showing contempt for the rule of law and Bucks citizens- he wants to take that ‘record’ to Congress.
“On the other hand, Congressman Fitzpatrick is understandably happy.”
