A second Democrat has entered the race for the First Congressional District.
U.S. Navy veteran Paul Fermo, of Lower Makefield Township, announced his bid for the 2022 Democratic primary Thursday morning.
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His announcement comes a little more than a week after Bensalem Township U.S. Army veteran Ashley Ehasz became the first Democrat in the race. Both candidates have eyes on challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who is serving his third term in Congress.
“I can tell you from experience that landing a fighter jet going hundreds of miles an hour on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier in rough seas is hard, but from what I see, making ends meet for seniors and working families in Bucks County is getting just as hard. Too many Americans have given up on a government they don’t believe can work,” Fermo said in a statement.
“I believe we can do better. I believe we must do better. Congress needs people with practical, real-world, relatable experience, like I have, to change the culture of our Democracy. I’m ready to do my part,” he added.
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In a cell phone-shot announcement video, Fermo said his experience as a naval aviator and his work in business has given him what it takes to serve the First Congressional District, which makes up all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County by Lansdale.
Fermo’s announcement video was not as slickly produced as Ehasz’s recent outing, which was filmed in Bristol Borough. In his video, Fermo narrated his introduction to voters from a living room as pictures from his life displayed on the screen.
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“I will not stand by and let the American dream fail – not when so many of my brothers and sisters in arms sacrificed all so we could keep that dream alive. America is worth fighting for. Our family’s deep ties to Bucks and Montgomery Counties are worth fighting for,” Fermo said in his announcement video.
Fermo flew the F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet jets and launched from aircraft carriers during his two-decade-long career. He served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, he held a position advising the joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon.
Following his military career, Fermo worked managing small and large businesses around the world. His campaign said he presently works as an executive overseeing business development at a small technology company.
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Fermo, who is married to a military veteran, has three kids. He is the grandson of what his campaign said were undocumented Italian immigrants. His dad was a 36-year military officer and his mom was a teacher.
Fermo and Ehasz will both have to pull in significant funds in the high-profile district. If one goes on to challenge Fitzpatrick, they will have to raise large sums of money to fight Fitzpatrick, who had $1.5 million in his campaign coffers at the end of last month.
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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has spent months trying to soften Fitzpatrick by pushing messages connecting him to former President Donald Trump and running a billboard along I-95 in Bristol Township that read: “Does Brian Fitzpatrick Support Trump?”
Fitzpatrick has performed strongly in his three past general elections and easily beaten back Republican primary opponents.
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The incumbent congressman, who touts that he puts people over politics, has captured the attention of some key Republicans in Washington D.C.
After his 2021 election win, Fitzpatrick was asked to consider a run for U.S. Senate in 2022. He turned down that opportunity after thinking about it, LevittownNow.com exclusively reported last week.
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In addition to Ehasz and Fitzpatrick, Souderton, Montgomery County resident Henry Conoly has filed paperwork to run with the Green Party in the First Congressional District.
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