This swing state Republican keeps distancing himself from Trump. It may not save him in the midterms

(AP) — Mary Ryan may be a registered Republican but she has never voted for President Donald Trump, turned off by his crass style of politics and chaotic approach to governing. But the 60-year-old medical writer from the Philadelphia suburbs has consistently backed her party’s congressman, five-term Rep. This year, Ryan is so fed up with Trump and his grip on Congress that she is planning to vote in November for Fitzpatrick’s Democratic opponent in the 1st Congressional District, Bob Harvie, a twice countywide elected commissioner who is a former social studies teacher.

Even though Fitzpatrick has pitched himself as a voice of reason in Washington, Ryan said that “I don’t see it happening.” Defections like this one could sink Fitzpatrick’s reelection chances and cost Republicans their narrow U.S. As one of the few Republicans representing a congressional district won by Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential race two years ago, Fitzpatrick has done as much as any House Republican to distance himself from Trump: Fitzpatrick voted against Trump’s tariffs, his signature tax legislation and his power to wage war against Iran without congressional approval. The lawmaker even skipped Trump’s recent midterm convention in Dallas.

But that may not be enough to overcome the collateral damage of the president’s sagging approval rating and soaring fuel prices because of the war. Fitzpatrick, speaking briefly after a Sept. 11 memorial in his district, said he understands this year’s political challenges and always considers what is best for his constituents with every vote.

Representatives for Fitzpatrick did not respond to requests for a more complete interview. Democrats have tried for years to defeat Fitzpatrick Harvie describes the race and his decision to run in almost existential terms. “The lack of trust in our government, the lack of trust in each other and seeing each other as enemies based just on, you know, the color of your skin, the religion you practice, who you voted for,” he said in an interview this summer.

“I worry about just the basic foundations of this nation.” Fitzpatrick has consistently survived challenges in his politically mixed district. He won by 13 percentage points in 2024 when Harris won by less than a single point in the district. Brian Fitzpatrick.Until now.This year, Ryan is so fed up with Trump and his grip on Congress that she is planning to vote in November for Fitzpatrick's Democratic opponent in the 1st Congressional District, Bob Harvie, a twice countywide elected commissioner who is a former social studies teacher.Even though Fitzpatrick has pitched himself as a voice of reason in Washington, Ryan said that “I don't see it happening.”Defections like this one could sink Fitzpatrick’s reelection chances and cost Republicans their narrow U.S.

The lawmaker even skipped Trump’s recent midterm convention in Dallas.But that may not be enough to overcome the collateral damage of the president’s sagging approval rating and soaring fuel prices because of the war.Fitzpatrick, speaking briefly after a Sept.