Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, one of a few House Republicans who succeeded in a constituency that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried last autumn, has a clear warning for his party as the cutoff to renew expiring healthcare subsidies and the midterm elections draw near.
“If you lack a superior proposal, then assent to ours,” Fitzpatrick stated. “But inaction is simply unacceptable.”
In an extensive dialogue with CNN’s Manu Raju for “Inside Politics Sunday,” Fitzpatrick emphasized areas where he significantly diverged from his party’s executives, notably his wish to achieve a healthcare accord, firm resolve in supporting Ukraine, and prior ballots against advancing key elements of President Donald Trump’s platform.
The Pennsylvania elected official is among the scarce House Republicans putting forth legislation to prolong the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies set to lapse at year’s end.
While he does not endorse every facet of former President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare legislation, Fitzpatrick made it evident that a swift measure to shield Americans from soaring insurance costs is preferable to anything he has witnessed from his own party.
Fitzpatrick voted against the Republican endeavor to undo Obamacare in 2017 because he deemed the substitute “inadequate.”
Today, eight years hence, he asserts Republicans “still have not managed to devise an explainable scheme that will benefit average Americans.”
Fitzpatrick presumes House Speaker Mike Johnson feels he represents the bulk of his caucus by pledging to move forward a new GOP healthcare package instead of holding a vote to extend ACA tax credits.
However, the swing-district Republican mentioned that even some of his more conservative associates have conveyed interest in his pursuit to reach a compromise on the ACA subsidies.
“Accessibility is such a major concern in this nation presently,” he remarked, clarifying that for constituents with low and middle income, “a substantial rise in their premiums is not feasible.”
Tackling rising expenses will be “the core issue” of the 2026 elections, Fitzpatrick forecasts. He cited Trump’s election to a second term and Democrat Zohran Mamdani’s recent win in the New York City mayoral contest as illustrations of the impact when electors are motivated by cost-of-living worries.
Although the president labeled affordability a “fabrication” last week, as Democrats commence focusing intensely on the message, Fitzpatrick disagrees: “Have faith. I hear it every day back home. It’s genuine.”
When questioned on whether the GOP has been paying adequate attention to this concern, Fitzpatrick replied, “I do not believe they have.”
“Every resolution we introduce to the chamber ought to center on diminishing the cost of living for those who need it most,” he asserted, critiquing recent legislative actions concerning condemning socialism and regulating payment for college athletes.
Discontent among Republicans has increasingly been aimed at Johnson, as he struggles to sustain his slim majority and secure the president’s backing.
When asked if he thinks Johnson can win the leadership position again next term if Republicans maintain command of the House, Fitzpatrick responded, “I am uncertain if Mike desires the post in the next Congress, but that is a query for him.”
Fitzpatrick and Johnson began their congressional service as colleagues in 2017, when Fitzpatrick recollects his associate “spearheaded the bipartisan push for decency.”
“I personally like him. Do I concur with every determination he makes? Assuredly not. I never agree with every choice every speaker has made,” he stated, elaborating that his “personal disappointment” with the administration stems from his wish to enable regular members to better assist their constituents who elected them.
“I believe the optimal method to govern the floor is to permit every member to pinpoint one district priority that is vital in their area, and grant them a full floor vote on it,” he elucidated.
Call for action against Russia
One measure Fitzpatrick wishes to see on the House floor swiftly is a bill imposing severe penalties on Russia.
Fitzpatrick, who co-chairs the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, has introduced legislation akin to Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal’s widely favored bipartisan bill to enact debilitating duties on nations that purchase oil and gas from Russia.
While Fitzpatrick recognizes obstacles to forcing a vote on his bill in the House, including reservations from otherwise sympathetic Democrats about Congress granting the president further power over tariffs, Fitzpatrick cautions, “I do not wish to let the ideal obstruct the beneficial.”
“What I believe we must do is ensure that we convey a message to Russia, to Ukraine, and to the world, that Congress is concerned about Ukraine,” he remarked, pointing to a surge of support in both parties for preceding bills aiding the war-torn nation.
“I do not care how brilliant of a businessperson you are, the Russians are experts at manipulation,” he commented. Pressed on whether Trump is being misled by Putin, Fitzpatrick replied, “he’s been overly compliant toward him,” adding, “to claim someone’s ‘fooled’ is somewhat offensive to their negotiation tactics.”
As the Trump administration proceeds along the difficult path toward a peace arrangement in Ukraine, Fitzpatrick advocates for a more vigorous stance toward Putin, whom Trump last encountered in a significant meeting in Alaska in August.
“We simply need to adopt a considerably firmer stance toward him, because autocrats comprehend one thing and one thing only,” he stated. “Observe what brought him to the bargaining table. It was the menace of penalties, and it was the threat of Tomahawk missiles.”
Eyes on the midterms
Fitzpatrick stated without reservation that he will campaign for reelection, despite the considerable difficulty Republicans will face to maintain command of all means of authority in Washington.
He is merely one of three House Republicans who prevailed in a constituency where Trump lost the 2024 contest. Another one of those legislators, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, has already declared he will not seek reelection next year.
“I’ve undergone these settings before, but I am very close with my constituency,” Fitzpatrick observed.
The fifth-term congressman recalled 2018, when he was elected to a second term by under 3 percentage points amid backlash to Trump’s initial two years in the White House and following a setback to Pennsylvania Republicans’ attempts to draw more advantageous boundaries.
“It is natural that the tide perpetually ebbs and flows in politics,” he contended. “Furious individuals cast ballots; content individuals do not.”
Still, Fitzpatrick dismissed the possible liability that Trump might present to his race.
“I am a rather independently minded person,” he said, emphasizing his readiness to break with his party on significant votes, such as Republican leadership’s endeavor to pass Trump’s extensive domestic policy agenda before the president’s self-imposed July 4 deadline.
“I received substantial criticism for it, both in my district and from the White House and from some of my associates here, but I courteously reminded them that I am not answerable to any individual or any party in Washington, DC. My employers are back home,” he explained.
Fitzpatrick believes Trump’s comprehensive bill, which the House approved earlier this year with nearly full Republican support, is misaligned with what Americans desire “on numerous aspects,” including reductions to Medicaid.
As for whether those cuts may cost Republicans their majority, Fitzpatrick said, “everyone will have to account for their votes,” noting the more favored tax reductions that accompanied the tightening of entry to Medicaid and other government provisions.
“You must possess strong fortitude and resilience, and the simplest way to manage times such as those is to never lose sight of who your employers are,” he remarked.
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