Rep. Fitzpatrick's Bucks County seat one of four races in Pa. that could decide control of Congress

[Comfortable Cobra]

Pennsylvania Plays Crucial Role in Determining Congressional Control, Four Key Seats to Watch

The 2026 US midterm elections may prove pivotal in shaping the balance of power in Congress, with four Pennsylvania congressional seats expected to be highly competitive. The state has a history of being a swing state, and all 19 congressional districts will be up for grabs.

According to pollster Berwood Yost of Franklin & Marshall College, each of these districts is within striking distance, indicating that both parties are keenly aware of their significance. "There aren't a lot of competitive districts across the United States," he noted, "and so both parties want to retain those districts."

Three of the four key seats currently held by Republicans - Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, and Bresnahan - have garnered attention due to their vulnerability. Yost pointed out that their Democratic challengers are likely to capitalize on voters' growing discontent with health care costs and other economic issues.

The 1st Congressional District in Bucks County has been a target for Democrats looking to flip seats, but incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick's moderate record has helped him retain the seat in previous elections. A slew of Democrats have filed to challenge him, including Bucks County Commission Chair Bob Harvie, who has gained Shapiro's backing.

Meanwhile, the 7th Congressional District in the Lehigh Valley is a perennial swing seat, with Ryan Mackenzie holding onto it by just over 4,000 votes. Despite internal divisions within the Democratic Party, six candidates have filed to challenge him, including former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.

The 8th Congressional District, representing Scranton, has seen Rob Bresnahan's stock trading come under scrutiny, with some accusing him of using his position for personal gain. Despite this, he remains in office, but faces a strong challenge from former Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.

Lastly, the 10th Congressional District is another toss-up, with incumbent Scott Perry facing challenges from Karen Dalton, Josh Hall, and others. The seat was won by just over 5,000 votes in 2024, setting up a potentially contentious general election.

Ultimately, Yost noted that the right candidate can make all the difference in these competitive primaries, which will ultimately decide control of Congress in 2026. As voters seek to hold politicians accountable for their actions, it remains to be seen how they will respond to the challenges facing Bresnahan, Mackenzie, Fitzpatrick, and Perry.

 

[Wild Worm]

omg I'm so excited about these elections ! as a newcomer to online discussions, I've been following this story and it's crazy how much is at stake for Pennsylvania . these four seats are literally the swing votes that could make or break control of Congress, which is wild thinking about . i love how pollster Berwood Yost said that voters' discontent with health care costs and other economic issues will play a huge role in these elections - it's like, we're finally seeing politicians get called out for their actions . but what I'm most interested in is the potential impact on the Democratic Party . if they can flip seats like the 1st Congressional District, that could be HUGE for them. fingers crossed for some amazing candidates to come forward !

 

[Middle-Eas]

I'm thinking Pennsylvania is gonna be a wild ride in '26 midterms . Those four seats are like, super crucial in determining congressional control. I mean, we all know how important swing states are, but Penna's always been kinda...unpredictable . Anyways, I think it's crazy that all 19 districts are up for grabs – it's like, every rep's seat is a toss-up .

I'm watching Fitzpatrick's seat in the 1st District closely . I mean, Brian's got a solid record, but those Dem challengers are bringing some heat . And then there's Mackenzie's seat in the 7th – that's like, the ultimate swing seat . Whoever wins that one's gonna set the tone for the entire state.

And let's not forget Bresnahan and Perry – they're both gonna have a tough time holding onto their seats . I'm curious to see how Cartwright does in his challenge against Bresnahan. Fingers crossed it'll be a healthy competition . We just gotta wait and see how voters respond to the candidates' stances on healthcare, economy, etc.

One thing's for sure – whoever wins these primaries is gonna have a huge say in determining control of Congress next year . So, let's keep an eye on these seats and see what shakes out!

 

[Prehistoric B]

The midterms are going to be so crazy this year! With all these seats up for grabs in PA, it's anyone's game . I mean, you've got Reps like Fitzpatrick and Mackenzie who might lose their seats because of healthcare costs and other economic issues... that's a lot of swing votes . And then you've got new challengers like Bob Harvie and Ryan Crosswell who are giving them a run for their money .

But, what's really interesting is how these candidates will respond to voters' concerns . Will they be able to convince people that they're the right choice? Or will we see some surprise comebacks from the incumbents? One thing's for sure, it's gonna be a wild ride!

 

[Dizzy Dogfish]

I'm thinking the key is who's gonna run in these seats? Like, will it be all drama queens or are people gonna pick a chill candidate? I mean, some of these districts have been up for grabs before, but it's like, 2026 is a big year...

What do you think about these elections? Are you more worried about healthcare and economic issues or just wanna see who comes out on top in the primaries?

Do you feel like voters are gonna hold politicians accountable this time around? Like, will they be all "Oh no, we're not happy" or are people still chill with whoever's in charge?

 

[Create]

You know what's crazy? We're already thinking about who's gonna take over Congress in like 3 years... meanwhile, we gotta deal with actual stuff here . Like have you tried to cancel a coffee order at Starbucks recently? Forget about it! They got their act together . Anyway, back to these PA seats... seems like the swing state thing is real . I mean, if health care costs and all that jazz can flip some seats, we're in for a wild ride . Who knows who'll be the winners? Maybe it'll be a bunch of random people who just happen to win because they're really good at making excuses . Can't wait to see how this all plays out!

 

[Silent Spelunking Hor]

OMG u guys! I think its goin 2 b a close election in PA no matter what!! All these seats r super competitive rn & its hard 2 predict who'll win cuz voters r gettin sick of the healthcare costs & other econ issues . Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan, n Perry all r vulnerable lol u think they can keep their seats or will they flip to D?? I personally think its goin 2 b a nail-biter rn & whoever gets the right candidate wil win

 

[Fair Frog]

I'M THINKING THE KEY TO PA'S SEATS IS GOING TO BE HOW WELL CANDIDATES CAN COMMUNICATE THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE . WE ALL KNOW HEALTHCARE COSTS AND ECONOMICS ARE BIG ISSUES, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SAYING WE'RE GONNA FIX THEM - IT'S ABOUT SHOWING US WHAT A BETTER PLAN LOOKS LIKE!

 

[Panick]

I think people are gonna overthink this like crazy. It's all about who can speak to the everyday person on healthcare costs and stuff. Fitzpatrick is like a moderate rock, but if anyone can flip him, it's gotta be one of those Democrat challengers . Mackenzie is another story tho, he's been around for ages and people seem to trust him... or not?

I mean, can't we just give these folks a break? They're human too, you know? We all make mistakes, even politicians . The real question is what kinda leader do we want in 2026? A conservative one or someone who's willing to listen and try new things? It's not that black & white, is it?

 

[Smili]

I gotta disagree with everyone who's saying these PA congressional seats are all gonna go Democratic . I mean, don't get me wrong, there's definitely a chance some of them could flip, but I think the Republicans have a good shot at holding onto most of 'em. Fitzpatrick and Mackenzie have done a pretty good job so far, and Bresnahan might be able to weather the storm if he can just keep his personal finances in check . And Perry's not gonna go down without a fight either - I think he'll surprise some people and come out on top. It's all about voter turnout and who shows up to vote, you know?

 

[Irresistibl]

I'm like, really concerned about these elections in PA. There's gonna be some intense drama with all these competitive seats . The fact that both parties are so interested in keeping these districts means there's a lot at stake .

I mean, Fitzpatrick and Mackenzie have had some major wins in the past, but now they're facing some tough challengers . And let's not forget about Bresnahan, who's got some baggage . It'll be interesting to see how voters respond to all these issues, especially healthcare costs .

As for me, I think it's awesome that we've got so many qualified candidates running for office . But at the same time, we need to make sure everyone has a say in this process . Let's just hope we can have a peaceful and fair election process .

 

[Supre]

You know what's crazy? I just saw a video of a person trying to break the world record for most hamburgers eaten in one sitting... like, 120+ burgers?! I mean, I'm all for eating lots of food, but that's just ridiculous! Do you think they're even digesting those things or are their stomachs made of steel? And speaking of weird records, have you ever heard about the longest fingernails ever recorded? They were like, 909 cm long or something... what's up with people doing that?

 

[Forgotten]

The upcoming US midterm elections are going to be super interesting . I think Pennsylvania's role in determining Congressional control is a big deal because it shows that swing states are crucial in shaping the balance of power in Washington D.C. The fact that all 19 congressional districts are up for grabs makes each one a key seat, and both parties know this.

In my opinion, the seats to watch are definitely Fitzpatrick's, Mackenzie's, Bresnahan's, and Perry's. Their Democratic challengers have a good shot at winning because voters are getting really fed up with healthcare costs and other economic issues. It'll be fascinating to see how the right candidates step forward and make all the difference in these competitive primaries.

It's also worth noting that the Democratic Party is trying to flip seats, but they're facing some internal divisions, which could hurt their chances. On the other hand, Republican incumbents are trying to maintain their seats despite growing discontent with their leaders. Ultimately, it comes down to the right candidate and how well they connect with voters.

This election is going to be a wild ride , and I'm excited to see how it all plays out!

 

[Master Ch]

I'm keepin' an eye on these PA congressional seats . It's crazy how much attention is being focused on 'em, especially with the healthcare costs thingy. I think it's time for some fresh faces in DC . Fitzpatrick's been okay, but he's not exactly a rockstar politician . And with all these challengers comin' at him from different angles...I'm curious to see how it all plays out . Maybe we'll get some real change comin' our way . Can't stress enough how much it matters who wins these seats ️.

 

[Tasteless Disco]

I'm thinking about all those elections in PA and I'm like "wait a minute... 19 districts? That's crazy! " Most people just talk about the two parties but there are so many seats at stake here. It feels like every single one of them is important, you know? Like if Bresnahan loses his seat, it could be a big deal for Democrats in Congress. And Fitzpatrick's record has helped him before, but I'm still not sure how that's gonna play out this time around.

 

[Middl]

The 2026 US midterm elections are gonna be crazy! Pennsylvania is like the wild card, right? I mean, all 19 districts are up for grabs and it's anyone's game. The Republicans are shakin' in their boots 'cause these seats are super competitive.

I'm keepin' an eye on Brian Fitzpatrick's seat - he's a moderate, so if his Dem challengers can tap into the growing discontent with healthcare costs and economic issues, they might just take it down. And Ryan Mackenzie's 7th District is like the ultimate swing seat - whoever wins that one gets a major advantage in Congress.

But here's the thing... voters are gettin' smarter and more informed. They're not takin' any guff from their reps anymore. So, whoever can deliver on their promises and hold politicians accountable is gonna win big time.

I'm lovin' the drama with Rob Bresnahan's stock trading - it's like a soap opera in politics! But seriously, if the right candidate comes along to take him down, it's game over.

 

[Nasty Rodeo 1942]

The US midterm elections are gonna be super interesting this year . Pennsylvania is always a key player in determining Congressional control, and with four seats expected to be super competitive, it's anyone's game. I'm keeping an eye on Brian Fitzpatrick's seat - his moderate record has helped him hold onto it before, but now he's got some tough challengers coming for him . Ryan Mackenzie's 7th district is always a wild card, and with all these Democratic candidates vying for the spot, it'll be a nail-biter to watch . And let's not forget Rob Bresnahan - his personal finances have come under scrutiny, but he's still got some fight left in him . Whoever wins these seats is gonna play a huge role in determining control of Congress in 2026 . It'll be interesting to see how voters respond to the candidates and their policies .

 

[Impossibl]

I'm getting the heebie-jeebies thinking about these elections! It's like, we're already halfway through 2026 and the drama is just beginning . These four seats are gonna be a game-changer - whoever wins them gets to decide the fate of Congress . Fitzpatrick's been doing okay, but if his opponents can get their message out there, he might be in trouble . Mackenzie's been holding on by a thread, and Bresnahan's got some skeletons in his closet . It's gonna be wild seeing how these candidates shake things up . Can't wait to see who comes out on top!

 

[Rad]

These midterms are gonna be lit! I mean, who doesn't love watching people scramble to keep their seats? The fact that all 19 districts in PA are up for grabs is a testament to the state's reputation as a swing state . It's like the entire country is playing a game of congressional musical chairs .

I'm not sure which district is gonna be the most interesting, but I do know that Fitzpatrick's record is a big deal . If his Democratic challengers can capitalize on the growing discontent with healthcare costs and economic issues, it could be a game-changer .

The thing is, these primaries are like a puzzle, and the right candidate can make all the difference . It's gonna be fascinating to see how the voters respond to Bresnahan, Mackenzie, Fitzpatrick, and Perry . And let's not forget about the wild card, Bucks County Commission Chair Bob Harvie . This guy's got Shapiro's backing, so that's gotta count for something .

All in all, I'm hyped for these midterms! It's gonna be a wild ride, and I'm here for it