Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said he would leave the Republican Party if Pennsylvania moved to open primary elections, sharpening his long-running criticism of party politics. In an interview on Punchbowl News, Fitzpatrick said the closed-primary system in Pennsylvania is a major reason he stays registered Republican, even though he rejects strict party loyalty. The remarks came as Fitzpatrick, who represents Pennsylvania’s 1st District, faces re-election in a competitive district he has held since 2017.
Fitzpatrick: closed primaries shape political behavior
Fitzpatrick said the current system forces lawmakers to worry more about primary voters than broader public interests. “Countless people go to the floor saying I really want to vote for this, but I got to worry about my primary, ” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s killing our country. It’s killing good policy, and we got to fix that. ”
He added that it was “ignorant to subscribe to a party” and said he has a “disdain for ideologues and partisans. ” When asked whether he would simply run as an independent, Fitzpatrick said Pennsylvania’s rules make that option impractical because voters who register as Independent would forfeit the right to vote in half of elections.
Fitzpatrick said if Pennsylvania had open primaries, he would “100%” leave the GOP. The exact phrase underscores how central the state’s election structure is to his political identity, and it also explains why the question of party label is not just rhetorical for him. In his telling, the system itself pushes candidates toward polarization rather than coalition-building.
His broader break with party pressure
Fitzpatrick also said he was “upset” when people criticized Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., who has often voted with Republicans on key issues. He pointed to his own discomfort with partisan expectations, including his decision to oppose the final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
He has also aligned at times with Democrats and other Republicans, including a January vote for a three-year extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies. At the same time, he has supported several of President Donald Trump’s priorities, including efforts tied to the southern border. That mix is part of the profile Fitzpatrick has built as a Republican moderate willing to break with his party when he sees fit.
What his stance means for the race ahead
Fitzpatrick’s comments land in a district that remains politically competitive. Since 2017, he has represented Pennsylvania’s 1st District, and election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball listed the district as “leans Republican” as of April 21. The district’s Democratic primary is set for May 19, with Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli competing for the chance to challenge him on Nov. 3.
Fitzpatrick co-chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus with Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N. Y., and said that is where he feels most comfortable. He described that group as a bridge toward a less partisan system, and he made clear that the word he prefers most is not Republican or Democrat, but independent. If Pennsylvania ever changes its primary rules, Fitzpatrick said, brian fitzpatrick would not remain in the GOP.
