| More and more people are saying that vulnerable Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is facing the toughest race of his political career.
The Bucks County Courier Times reports today that “the contest for Fitzpatrick’s seat could be one of the most competitive races in the country” as Bucks County voters continue to sour on Republicans for failing to lower costs.
Fitzpatrick – who hasn’t held an in-person town hall in more than 8 years and is underwater with voters in public polling – will be forced to defend his toxic record that includes voting to protect Trump’s cost-spiking tariffs and casting the decisive vote to pass Trump’s so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ which gutted health care in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires.
Read key excerpts for yourself:
Bucks County Courier Times: Why Bucks County Matters So Much In The 2026 Midterm Election
By Chris Ullery | 2/4/2026
- The Nov. 3 midterm election is still nine months away, but the focus of national campaign committees has already turned toward Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District seat in Bucks County and control of the state General Assembly, where every House seat and half the state Senate is on the ballot.
- Midterm elections are typically viewed by campaign experts as a referendum on the sitting president. “Historically, the midterm election goes the opposite direction of the party in the White House,” Chen said. “And Trump has one of the highest unfavorable ratings of any president at this stage.”
- Most polls have Trump’s current approval ratings underwater nationwide. His net approval rating among Pennsylvanians was at -13% as of Jan. 8, according to polling platform Civiqs.
- Democrats need a net gain of three seats to gain control of the House in 2026 and overcome the five-seat lead held by the GOP.
- Inside Elections, another nonpartisan election analysis group, moved the [PA-01] race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” in December, according to Politics PA.
- The contest for Fitzpatrick’s seat could be one of the most competitive races in the country as members of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee take aim at Republicans in “vulnerable” districts, according to a committee spokesperson who spoke to this news organization on background.
- Democrats pointed out that an earlier version of the budget bill Fitzpatrick had supported almost came down to a tie vote in the House last May, which would have killed the bill as experts warned the billions in cuts projected would mean cuts to Medicaid and other social safety nets.
- Shapiro’s ties to Montgomery County — coupled with rumors of his presidential ambitions — will likely bring more attention to Bucks County as the year goes on.
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