Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick was sworn in as part of the 118th Congress early Saturday morning after a days-long Republican fight over who would become the next Speaker of the House.
Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, ended up winning the protracted battle after 15 rounds of votes. McCarthy’s nomination had previously been rejected by a group of 20 members of Congress who felt that he is not conservative enough for their tastes.
Fitzpatrick, a fourth-term politician from Middletown Township, was key in whipping his GOP colleagues into supporting McCarthy, who was strong supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Republicans hold a slight majority in the House, while Democrats have a slight majority in the U.S. Senate.
Published reports throughout the week and images and video from the floor of the House indicated Fitzpatrick was working to shore up support for McCarthy in an effort to make him the next speaker and second in line for the presidency. Several outlets described Fitzpatrick as a key negotiator for McCarthy’s delayed-but-ultimately-successful bid for speaker.
Fitzpatrick’s office did not respond to a request for an interview about the speakership race or what he plans to accomplish in the new term of Congress. However, the elected official did national media interviews as part of McCarthy’s bid to become speaker.
Sources have previously told LevittownNow.com Fitzpatrick and McCarthy are close. McCarthy has offered the congressman political advice in the past and helped him fundraise.
In interviews with conservative talk shows in recent years, Fitzpatrick has spoken highly of McCarthy. On Thursday during a media hit, Fitzpatrick said McCarthy “earned” being speaker and members of the Republican caucus should support him.
In recent days, there had been some talk on social media and in a Philadelphia-based publication that Fitzpatrick might be a good candidate for speaker as a congressman who frames himself as a moderate. However, that speculation appeared to be nothing more than that.
During an interview on Fox News Radio late in the week, Fitzpatrick said he would continue to support McCarthy no matter what. He said he would support him even if it took until July 4 to get him into the speakership.
The Levittown-native said the slight majority in the House is the “only oversight on the Biden administration.”
The drama over the leadership battle brought up new talks of a potential vote on congressional term limits, which Fitzpatrick has long supported. Despite Fitzpatrick supporting term limits, he has refused to say how long he would remain in Congress if he keeps getting elected, but a hot mic comment in 2021 indicated it would be for one or two more terms.
While the battle for speaker was ongoing, Fitzpatrick on Friday was the only Republican who attended a recognition of the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to Business Insider.
This week marked the first time since early January 2017 that Fitzpatrick wasn’t a sitting congressman for an extended period of time. Due to the prolonged Republican battle over who would hold the speakership, Fitzpatrick and his peers ended their last term at 11:59 a.m. Monday and didn’t start their latest terms until early Saturday, which left them as former members of Congress and congresspeople-elect for several days.
During the Fox News Radio interview, Fitzpatrick said the lapse in sitting members of the House caused a national security risk, noting he couldn’t even access a room designed to provide secure access to classified material.
See also:
Fitzpatrick Announces Grant for Perseverance Fire Company in Souderton
Congressman Fitzpatrick Casts Vote Against Democrat’s Inflation Reduction Act
Congressman Fitzpatrick, Former FBI Agent, Comments on Search Warrant at President Trump’s Residence
Congressman Fitzpatrick Votes on Assault Weapons Ban, Chip Manufacturing & Research Legislation
Congressman Fitzpatrick Votes for Marriage Equality Bill
