Scott Petri
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Republican State Rep. Scott Petri confirmed to NewtownPANow.com Monday evening that he was dropping out of the race for congress.
Petri, an attorney who resides in Upper Makefield, told Northampton Township Republicans at a closed-door meeting that he was dropping out, a source said. He added that he would instead seek reelection in his state House of Representative’s district.
Petri was considered a Republican favorite until retired FBI agent Brian Fitzpatrick, brother of retiring Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, joined the race last month. Before the new year, the national GOP was looking to Petri as a candidate to back.
Several Lower Bucks County Republican sources said Petri didn’t appear to have the support in the lower end of the county that Mike Fitzpatrick had always garnered during his races.
As of last week, Petri’s campaign was still seeking volunteers to get signatures for petitions.
The Downingtown Senior High School and Villanova University School of Law graduate said in November that he was running with plans to focus on the economy.
In his video announcement, Petri said he is a “conservative” who has “never once compromised my values in finding common ground to move solutions forward.” He added that he “hopes to get our country back on track” using common sense.
Brian Fitzpatrick, Andy Warren of Middletown, Dean Malik of Doylestown, Marc Dwome of Buckingham and Brian Thomas of Morrisville all are fighting to win the Republican primary vote.
Democrats are hopeful they will be able to reclaims Fitzpatrick’s seat. Small business owner and scientist Shaughnessy Naughton of Upper Bucks County is facing off against State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (PA-31) of Lower Makefield in the Democratic primary. Just this past week, Santarsiero was endorsed by the Democratic parties in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
