Congressman Fitzpatrick Doesn’t Take Part In Pre-Primary Election Interview

Ahead of his contested primary election, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is silent.

The three-term congressman and his campaign did not respond to multiple requests for a pre-primary interview with LevittownNow.com and did not provide a reason for their lack of response. A text to Fitzpatrick’s cell number was unreturned.

Fitzpatrick is set to face challenger Alex Entin on Tuesday. Fitzpatrick has a strong position in the race, with a much larger war chest and high name recognition. The congressman has previously held back primary challengers and Democrats in the general election.

The congressman, who frames himself as an “independent voice” in the First Congressional District that covers all of Bucks County and Montgomery County, has previously done pre-election interviews with LevittownNow.com or provided a reason for being unable to fit it in his schedule. In past interviews, he has often stayed past the pre-planned end time to continue answering questions.

Fitzpatrick did respond to the League of Women’s voters guide used by this news organization, while Entin did not. The guide is compiled by the nonprofit and this news organization simply shares the information.

Pre-election interviews, especially in contested primaries, are helpful for voters before they cast their ballots. Readership of pre-election interviews often spikes in the final three days of congressional elections.

There are often pre-election debates for the public to hear more from the candidates, but none were scheduled this primary between Fitzpatrick and Entin.

LevittownNow.com is a nonpartisan outlet focused on the Levittown area that a recent survey found reaches eight out of 10 area adults.

It is uncommon for politicians, especially those in office, to not communicate local media outlets that cover them. In nearly a decade, this is the first time LevittownNow.com has dealt with the issue.

All previous Democratic and Republican candidates have sat down with this news organization to answer questions prior to elections. Entin and Democratic candidate Ashley Ehasz answered questions prior to Tuesday’s primary.

Following LevittownNow.com exclusively obtaining audio of then-President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the congressman for the 2020 election, Fitzpatrick’s taxpayer-funded congressional office removed this news organization from their press release distribution list and refused to answer questions and respond to requests for interviews. The two exceptions were a single press release from then-Press Secretary Lauren Offenberg on Fitzpatrick’s vote for the 2021 infrastructure bill and a brief comment to a reporter at a community event.

Former Fitzpatrick staffers and people close to him said the office cutting off communication with the local media outlet was over upsetment due to the reporting on the Trump endorsement, which Fitzpatrick has not publicly commented on. One source said the congressman was also upset at summer 2020 reporting on security camera footage that leaked from Fitzpatrick’s government office and ended up on social media.

Fitzpatrick’s communications staffers Casey-Lee Waldron, Will Kiley, Betsy Byrne, and Offenberg all followed the policy of limiting the ability of journalists to get information from the congressman and his taxpayer-funded office that serves Bucks County and part of Montgomery County.

Despite the congressman and his office’s ban, LevittownNow.com has continued to report on the congressman, his campaign, and legislation he supports and opposes.

While Fitzpatrick isn’t talking leading up to his primary, read interviews with him from prior elections:

• 2016: Brian Fitzpatrick, A Levittown Native, Paints Himself As Moderate
• 2018 primary: Incumbent Fitzpatrick Formally Announces Reelection Campaign
• 2018 general: For Congressman Fitzpatrick, ‘Being A Moderate Is Incredible’
• 2020 general: Congressman Fitzpatrick Says He’s ‘Reasonable, Rational & Pragmatic’

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