PA-01 Congressional Race Enters Final Months With Millions To Spend

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and Ashley Ehasz.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick continues to lead in campaign fundraising over his Democratic opponent, Ashley Ehasz, in the closely watched race for the First Congressional District, according to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) data.

Between April 4 and June 30, Fitzpatrick’s campaign raised $855,335.46, while Ehasz garnered $767,547.82 in the same period.

The FEC data was released last week and revealed that Fitzpatrick spent more than $640,000, while Ehasz spent more than $255,000 during the quarter.

Starting July, Fitzpatrick reported having $3.8 million in his campaign coffers compared to Ehasz’s $1.3 million.

Throughout the 2024 election cycle, Fitzpatrick has raised just over $5 million and spent approximately $2.6 million. He overcame a primary challenge from anti-abortion activist Mark Houck.

Ehasz, who previously ran against Fitzpatrick in the 2022 election and was defeated, has raised a total of $2.1 million this cycle and spent $819,000. She faced no opposition in the Democratic primary.

Despite a lower second quarter fundraising total compared to his first quarter $1 million haul, Fitzpatrick has proven himself to be a formidable fundraiser.

For the most recent period, Ehasz experienced her strongest fundraising quarter yet, bringing in about $100,000 more than in the previous quarter.

The Democrat’s campaign highlighted that this quarter was the best for a Democratic candidate in the district since 2014.

“Brian Fitzpatrick has attempted to strip Pennsylvanians of their reproductive freedoms, and our campaign’s record-breaking fundraising and the amount of individual donors who are rallying behind us prove that our district is ready for change,” said Andrea Ramunno, a consultant for Ehasz’s campaign

Fitzpatrick’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment and doesn’t respond to media inquiries.

As a swing district encompassing all of Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County, the First Congressional District catches national attention.

Fitzpatrick has held the seat since 2017 following his brother, the late Mike Fitzpatrick.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has thrown their support behind Ehasz and called the district as a flip opportunity.