Congressman Refuses Primary Debate With Opponent

In the final days of February, First Congressional District candidate Andrew Meehan was officially added to the ballot for upcoming Republican primary after securing enough signatures to meet the state requirement.

The primary election, set for Tuesday, April 28, pits President Donald Trump-supporting Meehan against the incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who has framed himself as a more moderate Republican.

Around the time Meehan qualified for the primary election, he learned some unwelcome news from Bucks County Community College, where the primary and general election debates are traditionally held. Bill Pezza, the debate coordinator and educator at the community college, infomed Meehan’s campaign that Fitzpatrick’s campaign had officially refused to attend a primary debate with Meehan.

In a press release put out by the Meehan campaign, it is made clear Fitzpatrick freely debated previously Republican challenger Dean Malik in the primary and Scott Wallace in the general election in the lead up to the 2018 election.

“ANDY MEEHAN FOR CONGRESS campaign is shocked by Congressman Fitzpatrick’s refusal to participate in free, open, public debate with an official candidate on the ballot. His refusal is an unprecedented and cynical act of disrespect for PA-01 traditions, students, and the general public,” his campaign said.

The campaign argued Fitzpatrick has failed to engage in free and open debate while hiding “behind abusive campaign staff, vicious negative campaign ads, and libelous attacks in the media.”

“Brian Fitzpatrick’s repeated rejection of Republican values and voters is already public record. But his official refusal to debate is proof positive that every voter deserves better than fake, frightened Brian Fitzpatrick,” the campaign added.

When asked about his refusal to debate Meehan, the Fitzpatrick campaign pointed to the joint decision by the Bucks and Montgomery County Republican committees to denounce Meehan.

“Consistent with both the Bucks and Montgomery County GOP committees’ conclusion following a full committee vote, we will not give a platform to a convicted criminal who refers to themselves as a ‘Nazi’ and who uses hateful language against various minority and ethnic groups in an attempt to divide our community,” said Kate Constantini, campaign spokesperson, Brian Fitzpatrick for Congress.

The two Democrats running for Congress took part in a debate at the community college’s campus in Bristol Township last month.

Editor’s Note: Publisher/Editor Tom Sofield’s father, Chris, is Meehan’s campaign manager.

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