Rep Brian Fitzpatrick says he’d quit GOP if Pennsylvania had open primaries
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A congressman in a competitive district in Pennsylvania stated he’d go away the Republican Party if his state performed open main elections.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a average who has bucked occasion strains on a few of President donald trump‘s key initiatives, together with voting in opposition to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, is in search of re-election in a purple district he has managed for eight years.
Fitzpatrick shared in an interview with Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer his “disdain for ideologues and partisans” and stated it was “ignorant to subscribe to a party.”
“Countless people go to the floor saying I really want to vote for this, but I got to worry about my primary,” Fitzpatrick stated. “It’s killing our country. It’s killing good policy, and we got to fix that.”
NEW POLL REVEALS HOW PENNSYLVANIA DEMS FEEL ABOUT FETTERMAN BUCKING HIS PARTY
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., speaks to reporters exterior the US Capitol in Washington, DC, Sept. 29, 2023, after the House didn’t go a short lived funding invoice to forestall a authorities shutdown. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Sherman requested why he doesn’t simply run as an impartial. Fitzpatrick stated his state has a closed main, which means solely registered occasion voters can vote in primaries, which he deemed a drawback. If Pennsylvania’s main system have been open, Fitzpatrick stated he would “100%” go away the GOP.
“But you can run as an independent,” Sherman requested. “There’s some way to do it, isn’t there?”
Fitzpatrick stated it wasn’t potential in Pennsylvania.
FETTERMAN RECEIVES NO SUPPORT FOR RE-ELECTION FROM PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DEMOCRATS: REPORT
Sen. John Fetterman speaks to reporters on the US Capitol in Washington, DC, March 3, 2026, following a briefing by Trump administration officers on US strikes on Iran. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu)
“Do you want to forfeit your right to vote in 50% of elections?” Fitzpatrick stated, referring to what would occur if voters registered as Independent.
Fitzpatrick additionally talked about that he was “upset” when folks criticized Sen. John FettermanD-Pa., who has typically voted with Republicans on key points. Fetterman has been vocal about his criticism of his Democratic colleagues, similar to their technique to shut the federal government right down to push for healthcare negotiations final failed.
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Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s warning to Iran posted on social media Tuesday. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
In the 119th Congressional legislative session, there is just one US House of Representatives member who identifies as an Independent — Kevin Kiley, I-Calif. However, when Kiley was first elected, he turned a Republican.
Meanwhile, within the Senate, there are two Independents — Sen. Bernie SandersI-Vt., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. While they each keep an Independent standing, each senators caucus with the Democratic Party.
