DV Journal

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.”

On a campaign visit to Bucks County on Sunday, Democrat Senate candidate Lt. Gov. John Fetterman kept up his mocking attacks on his Republican rival Dr. Mehmet Oz, delighting supporters with quips about “crudite” and Oz’s connections to New Jersey.

The Bristol Borough crowd, which numbered in the hundreds, laughed and applauded,

Democrats, however, are not laughing about the latest trend in the polls which shows Oz steadily gaining on Fetterman. Several political polling organizations, including the Cook Political Report, now rate the race a toss-up.

Fetterman did his part to close the deal with Democrats and independents in the crowd, promising to be the majority-maker in the U.S. Senate for several progressive issues.

“Send me to D.C., and I’ll be the 51st vote,” said Fetterman. “Send me there to eliminate the filibuster, raise the minimum wage; $7.25 an hour is that okay? Isn’t it ironic that a guy with 10 gigantic mansions thinks $7.25 is still okay?

Congressional candidate Ashley Ehasz

“I am going to make sure we vote and pass the Pro Act. Our campaign (is) running on the union way of life and how sacred that is. It built America. It built the middle class, and we need to make more stuff in America, more stuff here in Pennsylvania.”

“I am going there to fight to expand healthcare,” he said. “I’m going to fight for veterans,” said Fetterman, who accused retiring Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) of using veterans as “bargaining chips.”

“Another thing: Marriage equality,” said Fetterman. “Back in 2013, as mayor (of Braddock) I was the only official willing to solemnize a gay marriage when it was illegal. (Gov.) Tom Corbett threatened to have me arrested for that. And I said, ‘You know what? You know where I live.’”

“I’m going to fight to codify Roe v. Wade,” he said. “Abortion is on the ballot.”

Republicans believe the power of the abortion issue is waning and voters will turn to the GOP on more ever-present issues like the cost of living and concerns about crime.

“Dr. Oz has closed the polling gap on Fetterman for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is (Fetterman’s) awful record on crime,” said Republican consultant Charlie O’Neill. “Fetterman has never met a criminal he didn’t think was a victim, which is backward thinking to most Pennsylvanians. In addition to his terrible crime record, voters know Fetterman won’t stop inflation. He won’t secure the border. They are also meeting the real Fetterman, the trust fund kid who lived off his parents for decades and didn’t pay his taxes – it’s all tarnishing the ‘every man’ facade he tried to create.”

However, many of the rally attendees DVJournal spoke to said abortion was a top issue for them.

“I’m for John Fetterman because I believe in a woman’s right to choose,” said Phyllis Arnold of Buckingham, a retired teacher. She also said she favored “sensible gun control” and “being the stewards of the planet.” And she was concerned about access to healthcare, especially for the disabled.

Her friend, Penny Parkin, who also lives in Buckingham, agreed with all those points and added,” I am a Democrat. I vote Democrat. I always vote Democrat.”

“My number one concern is protecting the vote, protecting democracy,” said Parkin.

Bristol resident Sybil Henderson also mentioned “protecting women’s rights” and affordable healthcare.

Maggie Finn, also of Bristol, said she worries about the fentanyl crisis and lost her brother to an overdose. Substance abuse “needs to be treated as a health problem, not a criminal justice problem,” she said. “I think people should not be in jail for nonviolent possession.”

Ann and Tom Argenieri

Yardley residents Ann and Tom Argenieri came with their dog, Lyla.

Ann Argenieri’s main issues are social justice, healthcare, and “personal freedoms.”

“It’s a slippery slope to a fascist, authoritarian theocracy,” she said.

Tom Argenieri said, “We’ve already sent one con man to Washington. We can’t send another.”

In a somewhat unusual move compared to other campaigns, the Fetterman event began with a warm-up act to get the crowd pumped up and ready for the candidate. He exhorted the crowd to chant and wave the Fetterman signs they had been given when they walked in the gate, similar to a comedian talking to a television studio audience before taping a show.

No similar warm-up person was present at recent Bucks County rallies for Oz, GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, or a rally in Wilkes-Barre that former President Donald Trump held for Oz and Mastriano.

Several local Democrats took to the stage to praise Fetterman and talk about their races, including congressional candidate Ashely Ehasz, who is running against Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks/Montgomery).

Ehasz mentioned she was a combat veteran raised by a single mother. She joined the Army at 17 and went to West Point.

Ehasz said, “I value leaders who will fight for and protect veterans…When I needed her most when I was a young kid just trying to hope for a better future, my country saved me, and as I stand here before you all as your Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress, I am running to save her when she needs us most.”

While Oz and supporting PACs are running ads detailing Fetterman’s record on crime as the chair of the Board of Pardons and using Fetterman’s own words in favor of freeing one-third of the state’s inmates, Fetterman said that he is the candidate who would be tough on crime.

“They’ve spent $30 million on negative ads against me, and we’re still standing,” said Fetterman. “More than standing. We’re winning.”

“Send him back over the river to New Jersey and send me to D.C.,” he said.

During the rally, Republican protesters could be heard chanting “U.S.A.” from nearby and a boat sporting an Oz flag motored along the Delaware River honking.

After his remarks, Fetterman briefly mingled with the crowd and then left the area without taking questions from the press.

Bucks County Republican chair Pat Poprik said, “Well, I’m glad to see that he finally decided to campaign and come out of his basement and let people talk to him.”

“I think the people deserve more than that from someone who is running for such an important office,” said Poprik.

Brittany Yanick, a spokeswoman for the Oz campaign, said, “Dr. Oz is running against the most pro-murderer candidate in the nation, and he is going to win in November because he is showing up and listening to voters – Republicans, Democrats, and independents – who want to see a change from the failed policies of the past.

“Pennsylvania can’t afford a Bernie Sanders socialist who wants to release one-third of Pennsylvania inmates, decriminalize all drugs, eliminate life sentences for murderers, and raise taxes on hardworking Pennsylvanians while failing to pay his own taxes 67 times.”

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Many Pennsylvania bridges—including some in the Delaware Valley–need to be rebuilt or repaired. And federal money toward those repairs will be forthcoming as part of the recent $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill that all area congressional representatives voted for and President Joe Biden signed into law.

In fiscal year 2022 the state will receive more than $327 million in federal funding for bridge work, Congresswomen Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) and Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) announced at a recent Zoom press conference.  The money is part of the $1.6 billion that Pennsylvania will receive from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

“Anyone who has ever driven around the Greater Lehigh Valley can attest to the urgent need for this bipartisan law to start improving the roads and bridges that our community uses every day,” said Wild. “This funding will fundamentally improve the health and safety of our community, and I couldn’t be prouder to have helped make it happen.

Houlahan said, “Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation for the number of bridges in poor condition (3,353 to be exact). So to say we will benefit from the newly announced Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding is an understatement, especially after the flooding and destruction we experienced as a result of Hurricane Ida, our municipal leaders and union crews are ready to rebuild. This investment will benefit our entire Commonwealth, and it was one of the proudest votes of my career to help get this across the finish line.”

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick speaking.

When asked to comment, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks), one of only 13 House Republicans who voted for the bill, said, “The bipartisan, physical infrastructure bill is a victory for not only the people of Pennsylvania, but for the entire country. For far too long, the federal government has created the crisis of deteriorating roads and defunct bridges, in desperate need of repair.

“I am happy to see that the Department of Transportation has begun to implement the bipartisan physical infrastructure package and that Pennsylvania will receive $327,178,593 in Fiscal Year 2022 through the Bridge Formula Program for bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction throughout the commonwealth. Pennsylvania will be allocated $1,635,892,965 in bridge funding over 5-years, and I look forward to working with PennDOT and our local communities on full implementation of these critical infrastructure investments,” Fitzpatrick said.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware Co.) is also stoked about the bridges.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon

“Bridges are vital to our infrastructure — critical to our daily commutes, emergency vehicles, and the trucks that make deliveries to our stores and homes,” said Scanlon. “Here in Pennsylvania, we have thousands of bridges in poor condition that threaten to divide our communities if not addressed. The funding provided by this legislation will help accelerate long-overdue bridge projects across PA-05 and the commonwealth.

“I am excited about what it means for our community to have the opportunity to address projects like replacing the bridges on Wanamaker Avenue over Darby Creek or addressing noise abatement along I-95. The projects funded through this legislation will create good-paying jobs, pave the way for decades of economic growth and prosperity, and better position the United States for success within an increasingly competitive global economy,” she said.

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) did not respond to a request for comment, although she also voted for the bill.  However, area planning commissioners and PennDOT have projects waiting in the wings for the promised funds.

Nationwide, the Bridge Formula Program is expected to help repair approximately 15,000 bridges. In addition to providing funds to states to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect, and construct highway bridges, the Bridge Formula Program has dedicated funding for Tribal transportation facility bridges as well as “off-system” bridges, locally-owned facilities which are those not on the federal-aid highway system, officials said.

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