Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
The largest union representing Pennsylvania teachers and school support staff, including most in Bucks County<\/a>, has endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick<\/a> in his high-stakes reelection bid to represent the key swing district. <\/p>\n The Pennsylvania State Education Association, by way of its affiliate National Education Association, informed Fitzpatrick of the organizations\u2019 endorsement in a letter Friday, telling the Bucks County lawmaker that \u201cyou have demonstrated a commitment to collaboration and problem solving, earning respect for constituents across the political spectrum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe value the relationships you have built with the public school employees throughout the district and your efforts to support policies that strengthen public education and protect the rights of working people,\u201d wrote Aaron F. Chapin, the president of PSEA, which is also the largest labor union in Pennsylvania. <\/p>\n Fitzpatrick, who is facing a challenge from Democratic County Commissioner Bob Harvie<\/a> in the 1st Congressional District, is the only GOP candidate for federal office to be recommended by<\/a> the NEA this year, according to its website.<\/p>\n The NEA and PSEA have endorsed Fitzpatrick before, but in a crucial election year, when party control of the U.S. House is on the line, the organizations are the latest labor unions to not leave Fitzpatrick\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Harvie spent two decades as a social studies teacher<\/a> and department chair at Bucks County Technical High School. He has received backing<\/a> from the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania, which is affiliated with union locals in higher education, the School District of Philadelphia<\/a>, and Bucks County\u2019s Neshaminy School District. He has also been endorsed by<\/a> Transport Workers Union Local 234, representing SEPTA<\/a> employees. His campaign is expecting additional support from labor in the coming months. <\/p>\n Fitzpatrick, in a statement, said that he is \u201cdeeply honored to earn the trust of the educators and school employees who serve our children and hold our communities together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey see the challenges facing students before those challenges ever reach Washington,\u201d he said. \u201cThey know what is working, what is failing, and what our schools need to give every child a real opportunity to succeed.\u201d <\/p>\n The 1st Congressional District, which represents all of purple Bucks County and a sliver of Montgomery County<\/a>, is one of four critical Pennsylvania swing districts that both parties are eyeing this year as they battle for control of the U.S. House. <\/p>\n PSEA represents nearly 95% of the local school district unions in the 1st Congressional District, amounting to 11,489 public school employees, retirees, and educator-hopefuls, Chapin said. <\/p>\n The endorsement comes after both Harvie and Fitzpatrick posted their most recent fundraising hauls<\/a>.<\/p>\n