Pennsylvania Republicans who narrowly won their House seats feel the heat of early votes back home

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 1:59 PM EST, March 1, 2025


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Newly minted U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan swore he wouldn’t support gutting government benefits such as Medicaid that residents of his northeastern Pennsylvania district rely on. Then the first-term Republican voted for a bill that could do just that.

Bresnahan and two other Pennsylvania Republicans won in November by some of the smallest margins in all of Congress, prevailing in a critical battleground state that not only helped decide the presidency but also aided the GOP in taking control of the U.S. House.

Bresnahan, fellow newcomer Ryan Mackenzie and seven-term Rep. Scott Perry now find themselves navigating the delicate politics of a divided electorate once again, this time during the first weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term as he makes economy-altering decisions.

Those include imposing tariffs on raw materials such as steel and aluminum, firing federal workers, shedding federal office space and, most recently, pushing for votes on budget legislation that appear likely to require major cuts to Medicaid and other programs people in Pennsylvania might care about. There is no time to hide: Mackenzie has already drawn a Democratic challenger in 2026, and rumors are circulating about challengers to Bresnahan, who is trying to find footing that balances loyalty to the Republican president with his constituents’ needs.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/congress-trump-pennsylvania-medicaid-tariffs-republicans-2026-7fa86e06996ea2d9632f766a3215f54d

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The 3 seats they are talking about represented only 2 "flips" (PA-7 & PA-8 - both upstate/NE PA). I didn't realize PA-10 ended up that close. That is the criminal Scott Perry's seat I knew Janelle Stelson was giving him a run for his money and if anyone, she should try again. And it's WAY past time to take out the 4th seat - Brian Fitzpatrick in PA-1.

[NNadir]

1. Oh shit. I didn't know Susan Wild lost her seat. That sucks.

I don't live in PA, but I'm familiar with the area.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Yup - she and Matt Cartright lost their seats.

They were in adjacent districts - PA-7 & PA-8. That area has been swing for some time but this last election was enough to tip it back to (R). Susan had flipped the seat to (D) in the 2018 Blue Tsunami!

[meow2u3]

14. I live in PA-7, Northampton County

I was shocked when Susan Wild lost her seat to that kook Ryan McKenzie. His strategy is typically repuke regarding angry constitutents: run and hide.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. And the heat is on too, in KS and TX, stories previously on DU just mentioned. The GOP thuggish party has finally

pushed their doomsday button and now are facing angry voter dissatisfaction, as they should.

Power when so baldly misused and misplaced is a very ugly thing, especially in gop or trump's hands. Ugly, very ugly. The conf. between Z of Ukraine and tRUMP and his cronies yesterday was a pathetic example of tRUMP's so called 'perfect' administration or whatever this creep calls himself.

Keep it up, no rest for those who are so anti-American and so pro-Russian (it's sickening). I predict now that the gop thugs will no longer hold any voter meetings - that won't stop determined and angry GOP voters either, so hopefully they will join w/ democratic forces and bring this outlawed regime down and out. Starting by voting in '26 a whole new Congress that will stand up against these thugs.

[BOSSHOG]

16. Tons of sorghum from last years crop

Stored in Silos in Kansas instead of being sold to USAID. Next years crop is on the way. Red State Farmers got the blues.

[SWBTATTReg]

24. That's a shame, a crying shame, these farmers could probably use that income.

How is it okay when the current so-called-president of the US acts so unilaterally on his own, and shuts out his own Country, farmers, importers, our long-term neighbors for literally hundreds of years, just so he can scratch his a&&. Having power and knowing truly when to use it sparingly is the true test and mettle of a president, not one that so blatantly flaunts it just to boost his own ego and poor self-image. A lot of these people hurting are in red states too.

Gas prices and/or other prices along the borders are probably jumping up in price, auto manufacturers and others are hurting since tRUMP has screwed up the import, export engine of America all just to satisfy his giant out of control ego when people resisted his idiotic impulses to stupidly raise / import tariffs all on a whim of his to raise money via tariffs (and probably do away w/ taxes for the 1%ers or worse).

He's showing how stupid he truly is.

[Deminpenn]

4. Dems have a good chance to reclaim these seats

in the 2026 midterms.

As much as I'd love to flip PA10 and PA1, I think they're kind of like chafing the white whale, tempting but not really winnable.

Bucks Co had a combo of rednecks in Bensalem, Levittown, Bristol etc in Lower Bucks and country club Rs in upper Bucks. They out number the arts community in central Bucks.

Perry seems entrenched in PA10.

[Wiz Imp]

12. Perry can definitely be beaten. It won't be easy, but we've come close twice (2018 & 2024).

I really thought Stelson was gonna pull it off in 2024, but she fell agonizingly short by just over 1%. If 2026 elections move forward as scheduled, it's currently shaping up to possibly be a blue tsunami, in which case I think Perry is defeated - especially if Stelson signs up for a rematch.

[Wiz Imp]

5. Perry doesn't give a damn. He's a hard-core fascist and has always voted that way

and always will. The 2 NEPA newcomers, on the other hand, may start feeling some heat if they don't break from Trump at some point.

Perry won by only 5000 votes this time. The 2 NEPA newcomers won by 4000 & 6000 votes. All 3 seats would be destined for Democrats in a big Blue Wave year.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. "Perry won by only 5000 votes this time."

And that is probably the closest that any challenger has ever gotten to him, which is notable.

[Wiz Imp]

10. Right. It 's the closest it's been in the current configuration.

Though the 2018 race was decided by less than 8,000 votes in a Blue Wave year.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. 2018 was the banner year thanks to the redistricting!

We went from 13 (R) - 5 (D) to 9 (R) - 9 (D).

PA Supreme Court elections matter (and having a (D) Governor).

This year's PA state Supreme Court election will be critical (2 (D)s are up for retention)!

[Wiz Imp]

17. Yep. I assume Shapiro will run for reelection next year even if he plans

on running for President in 2028. I don't see him losing to anyone at this point (his favorability rating in September was 59%), but I just saw yesterday that Mastriano wants to run again. If he is the R nominee again, it could be a record setting blow out.

[Deminpenn]

6. These 3 CDs along with Thompson and Joyce's

CDs make up almost all of the "T". Joyce and Thompson are also getting an earful from their constituents, too. That's a boatload of angry Trump voters.

[Wiz Imp]

7. Yeah, But Joyce and Thompson are probably safe in future elections.

They won by 48% & 43% respectively. I grew up in what is now Joyce's district and I can't imagine a Democrat ever winning there. It's a great illustration of a district where almost the entire population will always vote against their own best interests. It's been that way forever.

[Deminpenn]

9. Agree these are solidly R districts

but those angry constituents will make them think harder about their votes.

Honestly, if a Bernie-like candidate ran there on a similar populist message, I think he or she would have a chance.

[Wiz Imp]

11. I just checked out Joyce's Facebook page

and was pleasantly surprised that the comments are dominated by angry constituents. I found that encouraging.

[Skittles]

15. such a quandary for these cowards

how to pretend they give a FUCK about their constituents while continuing to hump Trump

[Wiz Imp]

18. Rob Bresnahan Hides From Workers As Fellow House Republican Faces Viral Backlash For GOP Agenda of Ripping Jobs Away

Cutting Health Care

https://dccc.org/rob-bresnahan-hides-from-workers-as-fellow-house-republican-faces-viral-backlash-for-gop-agenda-of-ripping-jobs-away-cutting-health-care/

As more and more American workers are summarily fired and laid off thanks to House Republicans refusing to stand up to President Trump Musk’s abuse of power, voters from across the political spectrum are making clear that they’ve had enough of Republicans’ anti-worker agenda.

Despite Congress not working in D.C. this week, Rob Bresnahan refused to hold an in-person town hall for Pennsylvanians to explain Republicans’ dangerous plans to rip away jobs, health care, and food from their constituents. Is it because Bresnahan is afraid to face them?

DCCC Spokesperson Viet Shelton:
“Rob Bresnahan has failed his community, and rather than do his job and fight for the workers in his district demanding answers, Bresnahan is instead choosing to hide from the voters who elected him.”

https://democrats.org/news/icymi-nbc-news-house-republicans-hit-the-brakes-on-town-halls-after-blowback-over-trumps-cuts/

Here are some of the Republicans too afraid to hold a town hall in their district:

Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08)
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07)
Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08)
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)
Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03)
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06)

[quakerboy]

19. Im not sure it matters

Under an active monarchy, the legislature is much less important. Trump may well sacrifice them.

[Martin68]

20. You, it's starting. I hope it starts to snowball before too long. The more pain Republicans feel, the sooner Trump's

coup will fail.

[FakeNoose]

21. The ratio of D voters to R voters is about 50-50 in Pennsylvania

... and we have a lot of unaffiliated voters that are sometimes disengaged, and occasionally rip-roaring mad about certain issues. That's why our PA elections are usually difficult to predict.

Just because Chump "won" in Pennsylvania last year, doesn't mean the voters suddenly turned MAGA. I think we're seeing a lot of buyers' remorse and FAFO these days.

[Paladin]

22. Find a for-real Democrat to replace Fetterman while you're at it, Pennsylvanians. (nt)

[Ace Rothstein]

23. This country is a lost cause.

People want Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to exist but still keep voting for Republicans. Make it make sense.