A group with a tie to a high-profile California Democrat has been accused of trying to undermine Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick in the days leading up to the primary election.
True Patriots PA sent mailers in Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District race ahead of the Tuesday primary suggesting Fitzpatrick was too aligned with Democrats, according to Politico, which first reported the news.
According to Politico, one mailer criticized Fitzpatrick for supposedly abandoning conservative values and another mailer targeted his allegiance to former President Donald Trump’s agenda.
True Patriots PA was established on April 5 with a specific focus on the incumbent congressman, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records.
The group spent approximately $26,000 on the mailer.
The group’s listed treasurer, Meagan Olson, also serves as treasurer for Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell’s campaign and is based in Sacramento, California.
In Tuesday’s primary against challenger Mark Houck, Fitzpatrick came out the winner and will face Democrat Ashley Ehasz in the November general election.
Fox News reported that Swalwell has denied any involvement or support for Fitzpatrick’s primary challenger.
“I consider Brian a friend and someone who has bravely defied his party to help secure Ukraine aid,” Swalwell said in a statement, according to Fox News. “I have never heard of his primary opponent and am not involved or support any effort to defeat Brian in the primary. My office uses a professional compliance firm that serves as treasurer for dozens of campaigns.”
The Fitzpatrick campaign told Fox News that the mailer was a Democratic attempt to boost Houck.
“We have read reports about a Democrat group aligned with Rep. Eric Swalwell sending mailers attacking Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick in an attempt to meddle in the Republican primary. These reports are deeply concerning and it is offensive that Republican candidate Mark Houck would take any sort of help from liberal California Democrats,” Bucks County Republican Committee spokesperson Pat Poprik said.
Ahead of the primary, Fitzpatrick’s campaign purchased ads calling Houck a “porn addict,” “con artist,” narcissist,” and said he “hates law enforcement.”
Houck said on social media that the ads were part of a campaign of “hypocrisy and misrepresentation.”
