DCCC - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

10/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2024 16:35

NEW: “Ashley Ehasz Hits Fitzpatrick on Quiet Campaign”

New reporting from Punchbowl News shows Ashley Ehasz is on the attack, taking Brian Fitzpatrick to task for his total absence on the campaign trail and utter refusal to explain his support for a nationwide abortion ban.

Punchbowl reported that Ehasz will be attending a candidate forum later this month - an event that Fitzpatrick "declined to be in." Fitzpatrick "also won't debate Ehasz this cycle, despite doing so in 2022."

DCCC Spokesperson Aidan Johnson:
"Brian Fitzpatrick seems to always have room in his schedule to campaign with anti-abortions extremists or provide a rubber-stamp for their agenda, but never has time to face his constituents. He should have to answer for his attacks on women's reproductive freedoms and his refusal to break with Donald Trump."

  • Democratic challenger Ashley Ehasz is hitting Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in the weeks ahead of Election Day by calling him invisible and afraid to engage with voters.

  • Ehasz, who lost to Fitzpatrick by nearly 10 points in 2022, is running a rematch campaign focused on protecting democracy and abortion rights, while referring to Fitzpatrick as a fake moderate in Congress.

  • "He's an elected official. He is one of 435 members of the House that we have at the federal level and he can't even get in front of his own constituents," Ehasz said in an interview at her campaign office. "Silence speaks volumes."

  • Ehasz is planning to participate in a candidate forum, which Fitzpatrick declined to be in, later this month to make that point. He also won't debate Ehasz this cycle, despite doing so in 2022.

  • A long shot: Fitzpatrick didn't respond to multiple requests to discuss his race, but he did flag for us an internal poll that had him up 14 points ahead of Ehasz. Fitzpatrick added that he didn't think there was "much of a race" in his Bucks County district.

  • Ehasz argued that her race is under the radar but closer than being reported. The DCCC moved this race to a "red to blue" flip opportunity this cycle, she said. Ehasz also touted that her internal polling shows her up on Fitzpatrick when it comes to the issue of abortion, and she's done well fundraising. Ehasz brought in $1.25 million in Q3, according to her campaign.

  • But Fitzpatrick still has a strong fundraising advantage. As of the end of June, he had more than $3.8 million cash-on-hand.

  • Leadership ties: Today, Fitzpatrick is fundraising with Speaker Mike Johnson in Newtown and here in Bucks County with Whip Tom Emmer.

  • Ehasz has attacked Fitzpatrick on his votes against bills to protect and expand abortion rights, including the Women's Health Protection Act.

  • Ehasz, a combat Army veteran, also criticized Fitzpatrick for bringing Johnson to the district as well as initially voting for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for speaker last year during the Ohio Republican's brief bid to lead the House.

  • "Mike Johnson wanted to overturn the election here in Pennsylvania's 1st [District] and he's welcoming him into our community," Ehasz said. "That is not moderate and that is not pro-democracy."