Fitzpatrick supports extremist for House Speaker

The Bucks County moderate congressman continues creeping rightward with their support for Congressman Jim Jordan.

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) voted for Congressman Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) bid to become House Speaker on Tuesday.

Fitzpatrick’s support for the extremist and former leader of the House Freedom Caucus may have something to do with the congressman having a right-wing primary opponent in the upcoming election.

Fitzpatrick, who is a co-chair of the “moderate” Problem Solvers Caucus, is being challenged by Mark Houck, a right-wing anti-abortion activist who was arrested last year for assaulting a Planned Parenthood volunteer. Houck was acquitted of those charges and then became a popular figure in conservative circles.

After announcing his primary challenge, Houck claimed to have the support of House Freedom Caucus members US Reps. Scott Perry (R-York), Mike Lee (R-LA) and Jordan, but Politico reported that those members walked back their support of Houck.

Earlier this year, Fitzpatrick used congressional resources to send mailers to constituents highlighting the right-wing bills he supported during this session. The mailer raised eyebrows because it was sent weeks after Houck’s primary challenge.

Fitzpatrick is walking a tightrope balancing the support of extreme conservatives with moderate voters.

Jordan played a role in trying to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results. The Ohio congressman participated in a Stop the Steal rally on the Pennsylvania capitol steps in the days following the election. Jordan also asked the US Supreme Court to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results.

The January 6th committee referred to Jordan as a “significant player” in Trump’s scheme to overturn the 2020 election results.

Jordan met with Trump associates multiple times in the weeks and days leading up to Jan. 6th to discuss strategies in overturning the election results or delaying the certification of the electoral votes.

“Jim Jordan is unfit to be a member of Congress let alone Speaker,” said Congressman Dwight Evans on X in response to Jordan refusing to answer questions about the 2020 election.

“He is beholden to Trump and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party.”