Democratic Congressional Candidates Take Part In Bucks County Voters Forum

Democratic congressional hopefuls Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli laid out their visions for the First Congressional District on Monday.

The candidate forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters of Bucks County and comes ahead of the May 19 primary.

The candidates clashed on some issues, while finding common ground in their opposition to the district’s incumbent congressman.

The winner of the primary will challenge five-term Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

The forum was moderated by Jamie Mogil, a League of Women Voter’s member from outside of the district, at the Middletown Township Municipal Complex.

The nearly two-hour event with a standing room-only crowd touched on healthcare, immigration, climate change, the role of third-party and nonaffiliated voters, and other issues.

Both candidates identified ending war with Iran as a top legislative priority.

Simonelli, a scientist and mathematician who previously served as a science advisor to U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, also called for increased accountability for federal officials and a focus on appropriations and oversight.

“The first thing is to end this war,” Simonelli said. “I think there’s nothing more important right now than not to be risking the lives of our service members, killing people overseas, seeing gas prices skyrocket, creating environmental catastrophes, and spending over $1 million a day that could go to housing and education and health care.”

Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner and former teacher of 26 years at Bucks County Technical High School, said he wanted campaign finance reform. He called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns.

“Until we know that the people we’re electing actually work for us and not the people who put millions of dollars into their campaign conferences, then we’re not going to rebuild the trust community to do anything,” Harvie said.

The candidates diverged on the best path toward universal healthcare coverage.

Simonelli described healthcare as a “human right” and advocated for the State-Based Universal Healthcare Act, which would allow states to use federal funds to establish their own universal healthcare systems.

Harvie proposed reinstating tax credits and allowing the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices. Drawing on his personal experience as the father of a child who has Type 1 diabetes, Harvie noted that Bucks County filed a lawsuit against insulin manufacturers during his time as commissioner to combat price gouging.

Harvie criticized what he termed the “Trump budget bill,” which is officially coined the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He told the crowd the legislation cut tax credits for healthcare and gutted social programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Throughout the forum, Harvie linked Fitzpatrick to President Donald Trump’s administration, a key focus of his campaign.

“We know that Brian Fitzpatrick is going to try and spin his way out of it,” Harvie said, stating that Fitzpatrick’s vote on an early version of the federal spending and tax plan was crucial to the passage of the final bill. “It is doing damage to this country and we have to stand up and fight for people.”

Fitzpatrick did vote against the final version of the bill.

On immigration, Simonelli called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating the agency “was built on fear of the stranger” and “has bad bones.” She advocated for a shift in national rhetoric away from “danger” and toward “hope and welcome.”

Harvie issued a call for comprehensive reform, citing a bipartisan Senate bill as a potential framework. He criticized current enforcement practices, stating that immigrants who attempt to follow legal procedures are “getting arrested in courtrooms when they’re showing up like they’re supposed to.”

On climate change, Harvie highlighted Bucks County’s legal action against major oil companies for deceptive practices and called for increased investment in solar and wind energy. The case was dismissed by a county judge but is being appealed.

Simonelli argued that clean energy alone is insufficient, noting that industrial processes like cement production account for significant emissions through chemical processes that cannot be solved by switching power sources. She said there is need for decarbonization across the industrial and agricultural sectors.

On the state’s election process, Simonelli, who previously was an independent, voiced support for open primaries, which would allow third-party and non-affiliated voters to vote in Democratic or Republican spring contests.

“I believe this is about people, it’s about policies,” Simonelli said. “If we are interested in strengthening the Democratic Party, it’s about letting other voices in.”

Harvie, citing his lifelong membership in the Democratic Party, opposed the idea.

“If you want to have a say in what that party is doing and who its leaders are, you should join the party,” Harvie said, adding that members should dedicate themselves to improving their party from within.

The candidates also addressed the rise of AI data centers.

Simonelli called for a moratorium on AI data centers and cited a lack of safety data on them. She added she “loves technology” but regulation on AI is needed because “the ones making the rules are AI companies.”

Harvie called for national regulations and environmental standards to govern their expansion. He said the federal government is behind on regulation for data centers and how AI uses information entered in by users.

Both candidates expressed support for organized labor.

On the rising cost of education, Simonelli proposed forgiving student loans and making community college and public universities tuition-free.

Harvie pointed to the importance of technical and trade schools. He said he drew on his experience teaching at a technical high school when thinking about the issue.

Both candidates spoke of the importance of funding public education, with both calling for universal pre-K.

The candidates offered their closing remarks to voters after answering questions from the moderator.

“The status quo is not working. We need a different kind of fight. I bring you scientific training experience in policy and the fight of someone who comes from the working class and wants everyone to have opportunity,” Simonelli said. “Things seem tough. Things seem insurmountable. And it’s easy to feel powerless, but I truly believe that together, collectively in solidarity, we can build a better future.”

“Brian Fitzpatrick, again, has been in office for 10 years. It’s a simple question to ask yourself. Is this country better than it was 10 years ago? Are our lives easier than they were 10 years ago? Are you prouder to be an American now than you were 10 years ago?” Harvie asked voters, adding he has a record of winning two elections as a commissioner. “I can win this race.”

In the final moments of the forum, a woman in a military uniform smock shouted, “Don’t send out tax money to Israel!” She was then involved in heated discussions with attendees and organizers as the forum ended.

The primary election will be held Tuesday, May 19. The deadline for residents to register to vote is May 4.

For more information on voting, visit the state election website.