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Dubbed the person most likely to beat Fitzpatrick, Harvie has enjoyed quite the Dem-orchestrated glide path. Harvie announced his candidacy just a few months after the 2024 general election. Democratic leadership pressed the electability case from start to finish. On announcement day, Bucks County Dem chair Steve Santarsiero told WHYY Harvie had "a real chance to win," and fourteen months later, on the eve of the primary, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene called him "the strongest candidate to take on Brian Fitzpatrick"—a through-line that included endorsements from committeepersons and Governor Josh Shapiro.

Timed to have maximum impact on the primary, Harvie was added to the DCCC's Red to Blue program on May 4. Shapiro's endorsement followed on May 10.

Harvie himself has embraced the electability messaging. Referencing his two victories in county commissioner races, Harvie said: "How will I get Republicans to vote for me? I already have."

Harvie supporters push back against the "establishment candidate" label. But if ever there was an establishment candidate, Harvie is it. Party leaders picked their winner more than a year before voters will have the final say. And tomorrow, his name will be the only one on the "goldenrod" sample ballot provided to voters by Democratic poll greeters.

The trouble with the claim that Harvie is the best candidate to beat Brian Fitzpatrick? Lucia Simonelli, the other congressional candidate on the Democratic ballot.

In contrast to Harvie, Simonelli has spent almost no time talking about Donald Trump and Brian Fitzpatrick. Instead, she has laid out, in detail, her vision for how government can work on behalf of the citizens of PA-1:

Environmental protections and clean energy
Universal health care

Restoration of government-sponsored science

Supports for veterans, farmers, blue-collar workers, and practical education

Higher taxes on billionaires
Getting rid of ICE and starting over

Simonelli has shaped public policy as senior staffer for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and for nonprofits. She holds a doctorate in mathematics. Simonelli is book smart, and a policy wonk. Nonetheless, she is able to articulate and defend her positions in plain language and without jargon. I find her speeches punchy and compelling.

In the April 27 candidate forum documented here, the differences in substance and style of the two candidates could not have been clearer. Yes, they share broad agreement on important issues: keeping dark money out of politics, childcare, raising the minimum wage, abortion, tax-code fairness, districting by independent commission, and the importance of trade schools, among others. But I found Simonelli's crisp, spin-free, unabashedly progressive delivery more appealing than Harvie's cautious tone, which too often seemed designed more to avoid alienating moderate voters than to clearly define his intentions. Harvie's response on healthcare, including the statement that "America is not ready for universal healthcare," was especially awkward and squishy. In several key exchanges, Harvie, the career politician, scrambled to catch up, as Simonelli rattled off positions and proposals.

Bob Harvie is a team player treading the moderate Democratic party line. He struggles to project passion and purpose. He was able to earn Republican votes in off-year elections against Trumpy opponents. Can he steal Republican votes from Brian Fitzpatrick? Given that voters perceive Fitzpatrick as low-key, moderate and independent, they may regard Harvie as the Democratic equivalent, not worth a split ticket. The more Harvie hedges on major reforms to systems like healthcare, the less space between him and Fitzpatrick he creates.

There is no doubt Lucia Simonelli can effortlessly create such space. But Simonelli is a progressive, and relatively unknown in Bucks County. Are those fatal liabilities? Conventional wisdom says yes. I'm not so sure. Simonelli's singular focus on improving the lives of those she would represent, and her fearlessness in stating the exact ways she would do so, are refreshing. With gas approaching $5 a gallon, voters may be more drawn to Simonelli's relentless positive energy than put off by her progressivism. As to name recognition, that depends largely on how much money Democrats are willing to spend on her campaign should voters topple their apple cart.

Tomorrow, Democratic voters in PA-1 will choose between a candidate their party has carefully groomed and guided to this moment, and a candidate who arrived on her own terms, armed with ideas and the confidence to defend them. Whatever happens, Lucia Simonelli has spoken powerfully from a platform she created, one the Democratic party tried hard to demolish. That in itself is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

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Link: https://halwrightnewtown.info/blog/Lucia-for-PA1-59/

April 29, 2026
Notes: PA-1 Candidate Forum, April 27

On April 27, a candidate forum was held to educate Democratic voters in advance of the 2026 primary. Candidates for the PA-1 seat in Congress, Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli, answered questions from the audience, and each closed the evening with comments.

I took notes, and am pleased to offer them as a concise way to get a comprehensive picture of the candidates without watching the entire 90-minute forum, and without the dialogue being truncated as it often is in news articles.

More information on the candidates:

Meet Meet Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli (WHYY)

Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District (Ballotpedia)

Bob Harvie for Congress

Lucia for Congress

Democratic Congressional Candidates Take Part In Voters Forum In Middletown (LevittownNow)

Bob and Lucia, from their campaign websites.

Candidates were given 90 seconds to respond to each question, with an optional 30 seconds of additional time after the first round.

Gist of question: What are your top three priorities?

Lucia:

End the Iran war

Accountability (with respect to current administration breaking laws and norms)

Appropriations (restore science and other important functions stripped away under Trump)

Bob:

Overturn Citizens United

If it is still happening, end the Iran war

Undo damage done by Trump budget

Lucia:

Agree re Citizens United, pass Disclose Act, transparency is key.

Gist of question: What does a humane and functional immigration system look like like to you?

Bob:

Democrats missed opportunity by not voting for a good compromise bill written by GOP Senator. (I'm not sure what bill he is referring to.) Fix system and reign in ICE: end internment camps and seizing people at court hearings.

Lucia:

She is the daughter of immigrants. Talk about immigration in terms of hope not fear. Abolish ICE, says "fear in its bones," border security, pathway to citizenship. Immigrant communities are proxies, billionaires hoarding resources are the problem.

Gist of question: How do we secure our elections?

Lucia:

Federal government is creating an atmosphere of fear, voting should be easy, election day should be a holiday.

Bob:

Served on board of elections, implemented secure drop boxes, start education program to counter lies. Mentions that Brian Fitzpatrick voted for SAVE Act. County has resisted sharing of data with feds, won lawsuits. No Feds within 110 yds of a voting place is the law.

Gist of question: How do we fix healthcare?

Bob:

Extend Obamacare premium subsidies, stop price gouging on meds, allow competition (Feds can negotiate). Make healthcare affordable, accessible.

Lucia:

Universal healthcare, more ambitious than extending subsidies, curb influence of big healthcare companies, state-based universal health support using HHS funds.

Gist of question: What should be the federal role in K-12 education?

Lucia:

Fed has a role, universal childcare to support families and create space for kids. Level out funding between districts.

Bob:

Universal childcare (kids can be behind by age 3), tax breaks for child care. Money goes to Bezos, Musk but not parents. Emphasize technical education and civics.

Gist of question: Concern over AI data centers. Federal role in regulation?

Bob:

Government is behind the 8-ball, privacy is a concern (release of people’s private info), national policy on data centers re electric rates is needed, impact on the environment must be studied and mitigated.

Lucia:

AI is moving "faster than the speed of trust," will not a benefit unless it’s regulated, moratorium on data centers until we understand them. Administration can say AI is about national security, but it's not, or they wouldn’t be firing scientists.

Gist of question: How can we protect Medicare and low drug prices?

Lucia:

Social programs are being threatened. Bring back federal work force so enrollees can get the service they need. Social Security will be insolvent in 2032, tax code is to blame, uncap upper limit on taxed income.

Bob:

Social Security and Medicare are promises we cannot break. Fitzpatrick and Trump are breaking it. [Bob notes age of crowd and their concerns.] Where will people in nursing homes go without Social Security and Medicare to pay?

Lucia:

Highlights lack of charitable giving and need to tax the rich, as they borrow against stock rather than cashing in to avoid being taxed.

Bob:

88 large corporations have found a way to not pay tax, fairness in tax code is needed.

Gist of question: Young people can’t afford to live in PA-1, how do we solve affordability?

Bob:

My kids can’t afford a house here. Trump/Fitzpatrick: tariffs, war raised prices. We must raise minimum wage. (He raised pay for county employees.) [Bob cites his planning commission work.]

Lucia:

I can’t afford a house here. We need $20 min wage. Lesser known root causes of higher prices: climate change, monopoly grocery stores, private equity. The grid is critical infrastructure. Stop subsidizing dirty energy.

Bob:

[Bob cites Levittown houses, now $400K.] NIMBYism has made building affordable housing in Bucks difficult.

Gist of question: Term limits for Congress, SCOTUS?

Lucia:

For term limits, longer in Congress due to long process of shaping and passing legislation. SCOTUS problem is more about the lack of an ethics code.

Bob:

Politicians' period of time in office is too long, after a time their access to special interest funding means they don’t have to listen. Prefers top age, as for PA judges.

Gist of question: Support for transgender and women’s rights/healthcare?

Bob:

Supports abortion rights. [Bob notes the increased acceptance of transgender youth in high school.]

Lucia:

Trans rights are human rights, gender affirming healthcare is healthcare. Wants equity in jobs and treatment, and proper gender identification in documents.

Gist of question: How will you support small businesses?

Lucia:

Universal healthcare helps, help them prepare for the future (training, education, transitions), position small businesses to lead in clean energy (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act are early examples).

Bob:

[Bob cites grant program “Bucks Back to Work."] Need to do more, reestablish SBA funding, job training, partnerships with public schools, pipeline from school to trades.

Lucia:

Small family farms: Last farm bill cycle came up in 2023, should be yearly, big agriculture is supported, but we need small family farms.

Gist of question: what is your track record on support for unions?

Bob:

Father was electrician and union member, mom in union, Bob in teacher union and on negotiating team; rule that county contractors must have apprentices (not union specific).

Lucia:

PRO Act, green transition I worked on in Congress is worker oriented, carbon tax revenue directed at unionized worker transition to clean energy jobs.

Bob:

Laments drop in union participation to 10%, supported union workers during strikes e.g. St Mary nurses.

Gist of question: Thoughts on redistricting?

Lucia:

Agreed with defensive efforts happening now, wants independent commissions drawing objective lines, many more representatives to match population growth.

Bob:

[Bob pauses to cites January 6, and lack of support for veterans, along with partisan redistricting as things about the GOP that him.] Constitutional amendment, independent commissions would result in more competitive districts.

Gist of question: What is the proper Fed role in stopping the spread of authoritarian regimes?

Bob:

Start with a leader who understands what authoritarianism is and recognizes it’s bad, Fitzpatrick shares blame, lead with allies, restore our moral beliefs.

Lucia:

Start with ourselves. Stop wars of choice around the world violating international law, foreign policy of aggression, cuts in foreign aid, cuts in other outreach such as Voice of America, those are our strength.

Gist of question: How will you leverage fed infrastructure funding to create a balanced network: walkability, public transit, worker support? [The gist is achieving a correct balance of spending in the right areas.]

Lucia:

Infrastructure bill helped, new projects should be done with union jobs.

Bob:

[Bob cites his relevant experience e.g. connecting local trails in County, 16 EV stations in county.] Federal government can help but state is bigger driver with incentives, block grants for public transit.

Lucia:

[Lucia follows up to emphasizes new processes e.g. decarbonization, that create win-win scenarios.]

Gist of question: Thoughts on climate change?

Bob:

[Bob cites County efforts to sue companies over deceptive practices, decries malign efforts to persuade people climate change is not real.] Climate changes costs County millions of dollars. More solar facilities needed.

Lucia:

Dark money from energy companies delays progress. Power sector needs better grid to bring solar and wind on line. We need more storage capacity: batteries, geothermal, and cleaner industrial processes and materials. Department of Energy should facilitate change. Given how far climate change has progressed, we need technology to get CO₂ out of the air.

Bob:

We owned the 20th century because we wanted to. Can do it with clean energy. Carter put solar panels on the White House, Reagan took them off. How much progress could we have made by now?

Lucia:

Look for innovative solutions. Ex: Farmers need to reduce soil acidity, processes to do so can also reduce carbon in the air.

Gist of question: What committees would you like to serve on in Congress?

Lucia:

Oversight, Ways and Means, Appropriations to fund Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). Science is needed to create policy.

Bob:

[Bob cites sports and teaching background, wants input from MOC on where best to serve.] "Put me in coach!"

Lucia:

[Lucia cites caucuses, PFAS task force as an examples of additional important roles.]

Bob:

Agree with respect to PFAS.

Gist of question: Should PA have open primaries?

Bob:

No. Has been a Democrat since age 18, from family of Democrats. Party members should have a say including in selecting candidates.

Lucia:

Yes. Has been independent, believes in voting on issues, it’s about people and policy, concerned about "party over people." Open primaries will strengthen Dems, make the party more inclusive.

Bob:

[Bob clarifies that he has voted for Republicans in less contentious times, e.g. Greenwood.]

Lucia:

Only two choices in November. Primaries are when more candidates can talk about things, a fuller spectrum of ideas.

Gist of question: How will you address high tuition cost?

Bob:

It's the wrong message that people needed to go to college to be successful. We’ve turned college into a business. Look in mirror; parents should revise the message to their children.

Lucia:

From a family including carpenters and electricians, agrees with Bob re universities as business. Supports student loan forgiveness, free tuition to community college, degrees that prepare for jobs, "fund [education] and shape it." [Lucia mentions concern about politicization of universities.]

Gist of question: Why are you running for the "people's house?"

Lucia:

Worked in Congress (US Senate scientific advisor), in love with legislative process, stayed in federal policy as advisor to nonprofits. Scope of work includes domestic and foreign policy; has ideas based on experiences abroad.

Bob:

Grew up in family that emphasized public service, *you* fix it. Will work for us (won't take PAC money).

Lucia:

Taught math around the world (Lebanon, Israel, Iran). Could tell students, "I can run for office" to effect change.

Closing Statements

Bob: Key Points

This is a seat we have to win.

Is this country better off? Are you just as proud of it?

Won county twice. "How will I get Republicans to vote for me? I already have."

[Cites accomplishments in the County.]

Can win this race.

Lucia: Key Points

Grew up in working class paycheck-to-paycheck family, no health insurance.
Enjoyed public amenities: parks, public transportation, etc.
Cites priorities with respect to federal funding: helping us.
"None of us are home until all of us are home."

Near the end of the meeting, an attendee shouted, "No funding for Israel!" The candidates were not asked about their positions on funding for Israel.