Mary Ryan may be a registered Republican but she has never voted for President Donald Trump, turned off by his crass style of politics and chaotic approach to governing.
uncertain
she → register → governing
But the 60-year-old medical writer from the Philadelphia suburbs has consistently backed her party’s congressman, five-term Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
asserted
writer → back → congressman
This year, Ryan is so fed up with Trump and his grip on Congress that she is planning to vote in November for Fitzpatrick’s Democratic opponent in the 1st Congressional District, Bob Harvie, a twice countywide elected commissioner who is a former social studies teacher.
asserted
who → feed → District
Even though Fitzpatrick has pitched himself as a voice of reason in Washington, Ryan said that “I don’t see it happening.”
asserted
it → pitch → Washington
Defections like this one could sink Fitzpatrick’s reelection chances and cost Republicans their narrow U.S. House majority.
uncertain
Defections → sink → majority
As one of the few Republicans representing a congressional district won by Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential race two years ago, Fitzpatrick has done as much as any House Republican to distance himself from Trump: Fitzpatrick voted against Trump’s tariffs, his signature tax legislation and his power to wage war against Iran without congressional approval.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → represent → approval
The lawmaker even skipped Trump’s recent midterm convention in Dallas.
asserted
lawmaker → skip → Dallas
But that may not be enough to overcome the collateral damage of the president’s sagging approval rating and soaring fuel prices because of the war.
uncertain
that → overcome → war
Fitzpatrick, speaking briefly after a Sept. 11 memorial in his district, said he understands this year’s political challenges and always considers what is best for his constituents with every vote.
asserted
what → speak → vote
“That’s the job,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
Representatives for Fitzpatrick did not respond to requests for a more complete interview.
asserted
Representatives → respond → interview
Democrats have tried for years to defeat Fitzpatrick
Harvie describes the race and his decision to run in almost existential terms.
asserted
Harvie → try → terms
“The lack of trust in our government, the lack of trust in each other and seeing each other as enemies based just on, you know, the color of your skin, the religion you practice, who you voted for,” he said in an interview this summer.
asserted
he → see → interview
“I worry about just the basic foundations of this nation.”
asserted
I → worry → nation
Fitzpatrick has consistently survived challenges in his politically mixed district.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → survive → district
He won by 13 percentage points in 2024 when Harris won by less than a single point in the district.
asserted
Harris → win → district
In 2022, he won by about 10 points when Democrats were elected to the U.S. Senate and governorship.
asserted
Democrats → win → Senate
In 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won the district by about 5 points while Fitzpatrick carried it by about 13 points.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → win → points
“Every two years Democrats in Washington label Congressman Fitzpatrick as vulnerable.
asserted
Democrats → label → Fitzpatrick
Every two years he wins anyway,” said Robert Speel, an associate professor of political science at the Penn State campus in Erie.
asserted
Speel → win → Erie
“It’s, to some extent, possibly like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football and failing each time.”
uncertain
Brown → ’ → football
Harvie pointed to his deep roots in the district as a basis for why he could be different from previous Democrats who ran against Fitzpatrick.
uncertain
who → point → Fitzpatrick
“I’m not somebody who needs to be reintroduced or introduced to people of this district.
asserted
who → ’m → district
And that’s very, very different than any race he’s ever run before,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → race
Jean Dolan, 61, is a Democratic voter from Newtown who has never backed Fitzpatrick and does not plan to this year.
asserted
who → back → Fitzpatrick
She has been frustrated with Trump’s immigration crackdown and she worries about how anti-vaccine sentiment in his administration could affect public health.
uncertain
sentiment → frustrate → health
As she sees it, Fitzpatrick is not independent enough from his party’s leaders.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → see → leaders
“He’s a nice guy.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
I know people like him a lot in the community,” she said.
asserted
she → know → community
But, she added, “you have to serve everyone in your district.”
asserted
you → add → district
Fitzpatrick has been willing to criticize Trump
Fitzpatrick graduated with an MBA and a law degree and worked as a special agent for the FBI and as an assistant U.S. attorney.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → criticize → attorney
He also worked in private practice as a lawyer and accountant before running for the seat previously held by his brother, Mike Fitzpatrick, who died of cancer in 2020.
asserted
who → work → 2020
Jim Rachau, a 45-year-old photographer from Doylestown, is a registered independent who plans to vote for Fitzpatrick again this year.
asserted
who → register → Fitzpatrick
Rachau is not thrilled with the war or the economy, but said Fitzpatrick has earned his support with his prior public service as an FBI agent.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → thrill → agent
“You would think serving for the public good, he would have their best interest at heart,” Rachau said.
asserted
Rachau → think → heart
In Congress, Fitzpatrick has not shied away from disagreeing with Trump.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → shy → Trump
He criticized the president, for example, in April when Trump called Pope Leo XIV “weak,” and captive to the “Radical Left.”
asserted
Trump → criticize → Left
We all know that’s the case,” Fitzpatrick said in an episode of a podcast launched this year with U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who represents a battleground district in New York.
asserted
who → know → York
They’re sick and tired of elected officials not being focused on the kitchen table issues that people really care about.”
asserted
people → ’re → that
Fitzpatrick also posts online regularly about meeting with groups across the district.
asserted
Fitzpatrick → post → district
…and 14 more, not listed.
The Aporia
