{"id":318827,"date":"2026-11-01T10:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T10:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/318827\/"},"modified":"2026-11-01T10:03:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T10:03:00","slug":"inside-the-pennsylvania-race-that-could-shape-the-fight-for-the-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/318827\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Pennsylvania race that could shape the fight for the House"},"content":{"rendered":"

Write to us at startingpoint@globe.com<\/a>. To subscribe, sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"RepublicanRepublican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick has won five terms in an evenly divided Pennsylvania House district, but he faces headwinds with the unpopularity of President Trump.HAIYUN JIANG\/NYT<\/p>\n

If Democrats flip the House on Tuesday, the size of that majority is an open question \u2014 and a consequential one. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I went to Pennsylvania\u2019s Bucks County for a congressional race that is shaping up to be a pivotal test case. <\/p>\n

The district is one of the most politically even seats in the country (the Cook Political Report ranks it a D+1 seat that nevertheless leans Republican<\/a>), Locally popular five-term Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. who consistently outperforms President Trump on the ballot, has emphasized his willingness to buck his party. <\/p>\n

But Democrats hope Fitzpatrick\u2019s defiance of gravity will end on Tuesday, weighed down by Trump\u2019s historic unpopularity. Democrat Bob Harvie, a local teacher for 20 years, is a Bucks County commissioner. Polls have shown the race to be close, with Democrats buoyed by a recent New York Times\/Philadelphia Inquirer\/Siena poll<\/a> that showed Harvie up by 2 percentage points, although well within the margin of error. <\/p>\n

The campaign has been bitter, with voters inundated by negative TV ads and billboards and yard signs. On Tuesday, in a sign of the national focus on the race, the No. 2 House Democrat, Representative Katherine Clark of Revere, came to thank Harvie campaign volunteers and give them a pep talk before they went to knock on doors. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to be one of these linchpin seats as we come up to November 3,\u201d Clark told the appreciative volunteers. \u201cAll of you are the ones who are going to make the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s at stake<\/p>\n

The seat is exactly the kind of place Democrats need to win if they want a big majority. A Fitzpatrick victory, meanwhile, could show the limits of antipathy toward Trump versus Democrats\u2019 own lingering unpopularity with voters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Harvie\u2019s potential \u2014 but also challenges with name recognition \u2014 showed while he went door-knocking in Levittown, a modest, working- and middle-class neighborhood. Two passersby rolled down their car windows to say they had voted for him. <\/p>\n

Another resident initially thought he was Fitzpatrick. <\/p>\n

Harvie\u2019s pitch usually began with his endorsement from popular Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat. Harvie told residents he wanted to raise the minimum wage, get out of Iran, end tariffs, and fight corruption in DC \u2014 including that he rejects corporate PAC money and wants to ban congressional stock trading. Most residents who heard the pitch were politely receptive but noncommittal. <\/p>\n

One woman who began the conversation through a cracked front window responded, \u201cI love Josh Shapiro!\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Harvie responded. \u201cYou don\u2019t love me?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know that much about you,\u201d she said, admitting as she opened the door that she was thinking of leaving that race blank on her ballot. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can,\u201d Harvie said, delivering his go-to line. \u201cBut nothing changes in Washington unless you change who you send to Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman took the flier and wished him well \u2014 without tipping her hand. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Plus: The 2026 midterms may be more important for the future of the GOP<\/a> than the Democrats.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udde9 7 Across: Yoga pose<\/a> | \u2600\ufe0f 68\u00b0 Chilly later<\/a><\/p>\n

\"PatrickPatrick Stewart as \u201cStar Trek\u201d Captain Jean-Luc Picard.Elliott Marks<\/p>\n

RIP Patrick Stewart: Stage giant and \u201cX-Man\u201d stalwart, his \u201cStar Trek\u201d Captain Jean-Luc Picard \u201ctaught us what it means to be a good man<\/a>,\u201d write the Globe\u2019s Jason Laughlin and John Hilliard. <\/p>\n

Is this turnabout fair play? A private equity investor defaulted on a big mortgage downtown, then bought it back for hundreds of millions of dollars less. Wells Fargo was left holding the bag<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sandra Birchmore: Her former boyfriend testified that she had discussed suicide<\/a>, but that he didn\u2019t think she would kill herself. <\/p>\n

Why so young? The rise of colon cancer among young people has been a mystery. Boston experts say they now have clues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gun control: Mass. has one of the nation\u2019s most restrictive set of gun laws. A ballot question backed by gun groups wants to scrap some of them<\/a>. In other news, a 14-year-old student has been arrested after allegedly bringing a loaded \u201cghost gun\u201d to his Boston high school<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be evil: AI powerhouse Anthropic, going public, vows to do the right thing. The Globe\u2019s Larry Edelman asks: Can it succeed where Google failed<\/a>?<\/p>\n

The Celtics\u2019 $200 million gift: The team\u2019s owners chipped in to help Boston Children\u2019s Hospital create its new psychiatric wing in Brighton<\/a>, Shirley Leung reports.<\/p>\n

Back to earlier sunsets: Yes, daylight saving time ends this weekend<\/a>, so set the clock back an hour Saturday night. One tip from your editor: Why not takeout dinner Sunday, <\/p>\n

Down: The world of devoted roller-coaster enthusiasts is still in shock after a fatal accident<\/a> and a reassessment of some of the nation\u2019s edgier rides.<\/p>\n

\"SingerSinger Nikki Minaj greets the president at a rally in Michigan on Monday in which he complimented her backside.Alex Wong\/Getty<\/p>\n

Nicki Minaj: Trump didn\u2019t demean the singer. She is demeaning herself<\/a>, writes Ren\u00e9e Graham.<\/p>\n

Money for nothing? What does a record $11.6 billion in political ads buy us? A nastier election<\/a>, writes Yvonne Abraham.<\/p>\n

Dear undecided voters: Need help? Here are the Globe endorsements<\/a> in Tuesday\u2019s election.<\/p>\n

By David Beard<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IndeInde Navarrette and Michael Johnston in a scene from “Obsession.”Uncredited\/Focus Features via AP<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf83 Obsessed with scary movies? Rachel McAdams, Hannah Einbinder, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Inde Navarrette are among the stars in our Top 10 2026 horror movies and TV shows<\/a>. And yeah, before you ask, \u201cWidow\u2019s Bay\u201d is in there.<\/p>\n

\u2764\ufe0f Blind Date: \u201cAs an avid watcher of \u2018Love Is Blind,\u2019 I knew this would be a fun experience<\/a>.\u201d Plus, the latest on the Boston \u201cLove Is Blind\u201d season, including a big breakup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf55 Yum: This popular pizza pop-up has just opened a storefront in Beacon Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udec6 Karen Read: It never ends. Boston\u2019s star defendant and her lawyer, Alan Jackson, are launching a true crime podcast<\/a> next year based on hot-button court cases.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb8 Noah Kahan and KATSEYE: First, the Noah part: The Vermont singer-songwriter announced a tour that features four shows at Fenway Park \u2014 and not Gillette<\/a>. Also, what happens when a skeptical mom and her KATSEYE-crazy daughter<\/a> take a trip to TD Garden?<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea2 Not so \u2018endless\u2019 cruise: A ship that promised ticket-buyers a forever journey worldwide came to an abrupt halt after two years, leaving seaboard residents stranded in Cambodia<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Today\u2019s songs: \u201cToo Good To Be True<\/a>,\u201d Kacey Musgraves. Also (why not?): \u201cThis is Halloween<\/a>,\u201d from \u201cThe Nightmare Before Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading Starting Point. Enjoy the weekend.<\/p>\n

This newsletter was edited by David Beard<\/a> and produced by Ryan Orlecki<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2753 Have a question for the team? Email us at startingpoint@globe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u270d\ud83c\udffc If someone sent you this newsletter, you can sign up for your own copy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcec Delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n

Tal Kopan can be reached at tal.kopan@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her @talkopan<\/a>.<\/p>\n