A California-based group, True Patriots PA, linked to Democrats is getting involved in a Pennsylvania congressional primary by boosting a Republican against a Republican incumbent, in the latest example of liberal funds being directed toward a GOP primary. The group, connected to California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell, sent out mailers to Pennsylvania voters to criticize GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and imply he is not conservative enough, essentially supporting his primary opponent, Mark Houck. Some of the mailers frame Fitzpatrick as a “Republican in name only” (RINO) and suggest he isn’t conservative enough for the base that supports former President Trump. True Patriots PA spent around $26,000 on these mailers, with Meagan Olson listed as the treasurer.
Rep. Swalwell denied involvement in efforts to defeat Brian Fitzpatrick in the primary, stating that he considers Fitzpatrick a friend and commends his efforts to secure Ukraine aid. However, the Democrats have been accused of backing Houck to take on Fitzpatrick in the primary. Houck, a pro-life activist, has acknowledged a past struggle with pornography addiction and has spoken openly about it at a church conference. He has defended his past actions and stated that he fell victim to the dehumanizing effects of the pornography industry over two decades ago. Houck’s past statements on masturbation have been used in ads by groups opposing him in the primary.
Democrats have recently been using liberal funds to support Republican challengers in an attempt to thwart candidates who support or are supported by former President Trump. PACs linked to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have spent millions meddling in GOP primaries, including in swing-state Senate races in Ohio and Montana. For example, Duty and Country PAC ran ads during the Ohio GOP Senate primary accusing Trump-backed businessman Bernie Moreno of being “too conservative for Ohio,” but Moreno won the primary decisively. In 2022, Democrats spent over $40 million to boost six pro-Trump candidates in Republican primaries, but all six of these Republicans lost their general election races to Democrats.
Fitzpatrick, who has not indicated whether he will endorse Trump, voted against impeaching Trump twice and won re-election in 2022 by almost 10 points, despite Biden carrying the 1st Congressional district. The effort to support Houck, who has been criticized for his past struggles with pornography addiction and extreme views on abortion, has been characterized as a desperate move by Democrats to force their extreme policies on Bucks and Montgomery County voters. Fitzpatrick’s campaign has condemned the attempt to prop up Houck and questioned the involvement of California left-wing extremists in the Pennsylvania primary. The involvement of liberal groups in the Republican primary highlights the shifting dynamics within political parties and the strategies being employed to influence key races.
