The vulnerable House Republican trying to withstand the anger directed at his party

Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is defending a suburban Philadelphia House seat that Kamala Harris carried in 2024, and Democrats see their best chance in a decade to take it. CNN reports that anger over prices, tariffs and the Iran war follows him on the trail. Dave Woods, a contractor and registered Democrat, confronted him over fuel costs, while Ted Wassmer, a Republican veteran and woodworker who has backed him before, says he may vote to rein in the administration.

Fitzpatrick's answer is to put distance between himself and his party. He says he would register as an independent if Pennsylvania opened its primaries to independents, and he urges angry voters to blame national figures rather than him. His Democratic opponent, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, says Fitzpatrick has changed and has done nothing about corruption.

Democrats have put more than $10 million into ads since September, according to AdImpact, and Gov. Josh Shapiro has campaigned with Harvie. Republicans responded with $100,000 from MAGA Inc. and $4.9 million from their outside campaign arm, and Fitzpatrick contributed $5 million of his own money between July and September. The two have not debated.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →