A Northampton Township man has jumped in the Republican primary election for the First Congressional District, which covers all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County.
Alex Entin, a husband and father of four, announced recently he is running to unseat GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who is serving his third term. Entin filed paperwork to make his bid official late last week.
On why he didn’t enter the race until this month, Entin said he was waiting to see how the boundaries for the First Congressional District would be redrawn. However, the confirmation of a new map has been delayed due to challenges in the courts.
Entin has committed to “putting American First” if he wins.
The first-time candidate said he got the idea to run as he was helping school board candidates in the Council Rock School District. As he knocked doors on their behalf, he heard numerous complaints from Republicans about Fitzpatrick.
Once then-President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and the January 6 attack happened, he committed himself to running, noting a surge in energy among Republicans.
“Running for Congress is the biggest opportunity to make change on the federal level,” Entin said. “It has the most reach.”
Despite his late start, Entin believes he can make up ground and win over Republican voters in the spring primary. He said his message is true and will connect with GOP voters. In addition, he has seen a strong grassroots community among local Republicans.
Entin came to the U.S. as a boy at 9 from the U.S.S.R. His move from the communist nation to America has helped shape his worldview. He said he is concerned the country is headed toward communism, which is something he doesn’t want his kids subjected to.
Entin would be the second immigrant from the U.S.S.R. in the First Congressional District race. Fellow Republican Dasha Pruett entered the race recently and came to America as a child.
On his platform, Entin said he would champion policies to grow the economy, use the federal government to “overhaul” the nation’s education system, require election reforms like decreasing mail-in ballots, do a better job at securing the nation’s borders, and fight against requirements to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Entin said he supports an audit to look at the 2020 election results in some states, including Pennsylvania, which Trump lost to current President Joe Biden.
Entin said he “can’t speak” on the outcome of the 2020 election without a full review being completed.
“This will put everybody’s mind as ease,” he said of an audit.
Election officials and law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels have said there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
Speaking of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Entin said he wants to get to the bottom of what happened.
“I still want to find out what really happened that day. I really want to find out what happened,” he said.
Prosecutors and law enforcement have said more than 700 people have been charged in relation to the attack by people upset over the 2020 election results. The most serious cases have been for attacks on law enforcement officers and seditious conspiracy against the government.
While in the community, Entin explained he heard from numerous people that Fitzpatrick, who frames himself as an “independent voice,” isn’t conservative enough for some voters.
“He doesn’t deliver for us and people are noticing that,” said the candidate, who worked for large companies and in the auto industry.
Leading up to the 2022 primary, Fitzpatrick’s primary opponents have criticized his positioning as a more moderate Republican.
The congressman did not vote for Trump in 2016, but he stated he cast his ballot for him last year and received an endorsement from Trump in the final days of the 2020 election. Fitzpatrick said Trump should be censured but not impeached after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In all of his past primary races, Fitzpatrick, a resident of Middletown Township, has beat his competitors.
Joining Entin in the GOP primary are Bristol Township resident Caroline Avery, Upper Bucks County resident Bradley Lanning, and Pruett.
On the Democratic side, Bensalem Township U.S. Army veteran Ashley Ehasz and Lower Makefield Township U.S. Navy veteran Paul Fermo are running in the primary.
