Ashley Ehasz, the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, chastised her opponent Brian Fitzpatrick for his absence at the PA-01 Candidate Forum on Tuesday.
The forum, hosted by the New Pennsylvania Project, a nonpartisan voting organization, invited both candidates to speak on issues such as voting access and the impact of the congressional seat on the local community. Ehasz, as the only candidate to attend the forum, held the floor answering questions about the Dobbs decision, the Second Amendment, and the border, while pointing out the flaws in Fitzpatrick’s tenure in office.
“As a commander, I learned a thing or two about what it’s like to be accountable to those you seek to lead,” said Ehasz. “Brian can’t even be bothered to give you all a few minutes of his time.”
Fitzpatrick and Ehasz were set to debate at Bucks County Community College this month before the event was canceled in September. Ehasz invited Fitzpatrick to debate and urged him to attend the forum, but Fitzpatrick left both invitations unanswered.
Kadida Kenner, NPP’s CEO and forum moderator, opened the forum asking Ehasz to introduce herself and explain why she is best suited to take on Fitzpatrick. Ehasz spoke about her experience in the military and the leadership role that prepared her to lead Bucks County.
When asked about what issues she thinks are on her constituents’ minds, Ehasz emphasized Pennsylvania voters are looking for pro-choice, pro-democracy leadership. She said she will make sure to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, pass voting rights bills, reduce housing costs, and make child care more affordable.
READ: Is Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick Scared to Debate His Democratic Opponent Ashley Ehasz?
“There are too many families out there struggling to make ends meet, and we deserve someone who understands what that’s like,” Ehasz said.
To protect voting rights and ease the voting process, Ehasz said the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (which Fitzpatrick didn’t support) was important for protecting those rights. Ehasz also mentioned automatic voter registration and supporting programs ensuring ballot issues are resolved.
“That is good democracy, but it also shouldn’t be hard to vote by mail or vote by or vote in person, whichever way you choose,” she said.
Kenner said that Pennsylvania was in the bottom 30th percentile for “ease and access to the ballot,” and Ehasz noted older voters and voters with disabilities may be vulnerable to misleading voting information.
While Kenner noted that Fitzpatrick was ranked first in the Bipartisan Index, Ehasz pointed out Fitzaptrick’s history voting for abortion bans, endorsing a Moms for Liberty-Backed Parents’ Rights Bill, and voting against a bipartisan Senate immigration bill.
“I lay that at the feet of Brian Fitzpatrick. We have seen some real rises in extremism in our community, whether it’s folks at January 6 or what happened in the Central Bucks school board,” Ehasz said.
While answering audience questions, Ehasz said she would work to find common ground and find solutions to move policy forward. Ehasz also spoke about her support for securing the border, creating legal pathways to citizenship, and gun control policy.
Rupa Mohan, a Bucks County resident and supporter of the Ehasz campaign, said she was impressed at Ehasz’s campaign and thought she looked poised and confident speaking at the forum.
“I really, really appreciate that we have one candidate — in this what was meant to be a debate — who actually shows up for the people,” said Mohan. “Huge contrast to the other guy who didn’t even show up.”
Mohan said she thought it was offensive that Fitzpatrick did not show up to the candidate forum. She said she understood it may be difficult to show up to face the unpopular decision made while Fitzpatrick was in office.
“I think you have to show up,” said Mohan. “It’s part of your duty as a leader to show up and be able to say you go one way or another.”
Ehasz assured the audience she will have a diverse staff representing the interests of the community and said, unlike Fitzpatrick, she will hold town halls “available to everyone.”
Fitzpatrick and Ehasz will face off without sharing the stage before the election. Ehasz hopes to unseat Fitzpatrick and turn PA-1 blue on Nov. 5.
