National Democrats Place Support Behind Bob Harvie

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is ramping up its efforts to flip the First Congressional District by announcing support for candidate Bob Harvie.

While the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee does not issue official primary endorsements, the committee will provide Harvie with “strategic guidance, staff resources, candidate trainings, fundraising support, and more.”

The move shows national Democrats have a preference for Harvie in his primary contest against mathematician and former U.S. Senate advisor Lucia Simonelli. The primary election is May 19.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Congresswoman Suzan DelBene said Harvie is the “strongest candidate” to challenge Republican incumbent Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who is serving his fifth term.

“Bob Harvie is a proud son of Bucks County who has an undeniable record of showing up and serving the community that raised him,” DelBene said in a statement, adding that Harvie would “stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable.”

Harvie, a former Falls Township supervisor and current Bucks County commissioner, cited his “bipartisan voting record” and 26-year career as a teacher as qualifications.

“My Republican opponent Brian Fitzpatrick has had ten years in Washington to make life better for our community, but all he has done is cash checks from his corporate donors,” Harvie said.

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s support for Harvie drew pushback from the Simonelli campaign.

“Hand-picking a party loyalist did not work for the Democratic establishment during the Harris campaign, and it will not work for PA-01,” said Suzy Wurtz, Simonelli’s spokesperson. “After a nearly a decade of Fitzpatrick, voters deserve a candidate who will go to bat when working people are on the line – not another representative who embodies the status quo of lukewarm, pre-approved Party politics. Lucia Simonelli’s background, experience, and commitment to working people are exactly the kind of representation constituents in this district need in Congress. Voters decide elections, not Washington insiders.”

Harvie has already received endorsements from the Democratic committees of Bucks and Montgomery counties and Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.

Sources told this news organization Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to endorse Harvie before the primary.

Fitzpatrick, who is unopposed in the Republican primary, recently offered praise for Shapiro. He stated the governor was doing a good job and that he should run for president. Fitzpatrick extended a wedding invitation to Shapiro for his upcoming marriage to Fox News Channel White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.

Fitzpatrick has not endorsed Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in her bid to become governor.

Reilly Richardson, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Harvie’s “candidacy is dead on arrival.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announcement also included a pledge to support Bob Brooks, who is seeking a congressional seat in the Lehigh Valley.