Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick Holds Back Challenger, Will Face Ashley Ehasz

May 18, 2022

Ashley Ehasz and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.

For the fourth primary election cycle, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has beaten his primary challenger.

Fitzpatrick, of Middletown Township, held back Alex Entin, of Northampton Township, in the First Congressional District GOP primary.

Unofficial results with more than half of precincts reporting showed Fitzpatrick with a sizable lead over Entin, who framed himself as a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump. The Associated Press called the race for Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick, whose late brother Mike served as congressman for years, did not put out a statement on his primary victory. Entin appeared to follow the same track as of early Wednesday morning.

The incumbent was expected to beat back Entin’s challenge.

Alex Entin, who ran against Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, answering a question.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Fitzpatrick brands himself as an “independent voice” in the moderate district that covers all of Bucks County and part of Montgomery County.

Entin, like challengers before, had hoped to take advantage of Fitzpatrick’s positioning as a moderate and take away more conservative voters, but that path to victory appeared nonexistent by Wednesday morning.

Fitzpatrick, a former FBI special agent and attorney, was endorsed by Trump in November 2020, but the congressman has not spoken of the endorsement and went as far as to ban this news organization from his press list after it reported on the endorsement.

Ashley Ehasz, a U.S. Army veteran from Bensalem Township, is set to take on Fitzpatrick in the general election.

“I have fought for and served my country, facing combat overseas and commanding soldiers at home and abroad, and now I am ready to step into the arena for PA-01 and fight for our families and future here in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. With skyrocketing costs of living and reproductive rights on the line in 2022, it is more important than ever to elect leadership who puts people and democracy over political partisanship. The Republican party’s anti-choice, anti-family agenda has let our district down, and I’m running for Congress so our community can have the rights, opportunities and economic security we deserve,” Ehasz said in a statement Tuesday night.

Ehasz has a tough hill to climb as Fitzpatrick is a strong fundraiser, has widespread name ID, and has easily won against Democratic challengers in his past elections.