If the Unions Won't Support Labor Candidates, it is up to us to do so

Do you vote for somebody who is aligned with your political views 46% of the time, or do you vote for someone who will, in all probability, align with your political views 98% of the time?

According to the latest AFL-CIO scorecard, the average score (i.e., the percentage voting with Labor) for the seven Pennsylvania Democrats in Congress was 98% for 2025 and 99% for their lifetime.  The ten Republicans in Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation achieved an average 6% in 2025 and 16% in their lifetime. 

Here is the breakdown of how Democrats and Republicans in Pennsylvania voted in accordance with Labor in 2025.  Lifetime scores are also included.

Democrats
Name	District	2025 Score	Lifetime Score
Rep. Brendan Boyle	2	92%	97%
Rep. Dwight Evans	3	100%	99%
Rep. Madeleine Dean	4	100%	100%
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon	5	100%	100%
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan	6	92%	97%
Rep. Summer Lee	12	100%	100%
Rep. Chris Deluzio	17	100%	100%

Republicans
Name	District	2025 Score	Lifetime Score
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick	1	46%	58%
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie	7	8%	8%
Rep. Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.	8	8%	8%
Rep. Daniel Meuser	9	0%	12%
Rep. Scott Perry	10	0%	6%
Rep. Lloyd Smucker	11	0%	9%
Rep. John Joyce	13	0%	9%
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler	14	0%	17%
Rep. Glenn Thompson	15	0%	14%
Rep. Mike Kelly	16	0%	19%

Although Fitzpatrick does a better job voting pro-Labor than fellow Republicans from the commonwealth, his record pales against the any Pennsylvania Democratic Congressional members.

Would Bob Harvie continue this Democratic record if elected?  Harvie grew up in a union household, and, as a former social studies teacher, was a member of PSEA. 

Given all of the above reasons why Labor should back Harvie, one might think that he should be flush with union endorsements.  Instead, it is Fitzpatrick who has amassed union support.  I counted 14 union endorsements from his website (including a recent endorsement from the PSEA, which does not appear there).  Harvie, on the other hand has two endorsements: one from the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania and the other from the Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents SEPTA employees.

It was frustrating to learn that one of the reasons for the SEIU Pennsylvania State Council endorsing Fitzpatrick for the first time was that he was one of only two Republicans to vote against the “Big Beautitul Bill”.  What they had forgotten was that he only voted against the bill the second time when his vote wasn’t needed.  The first time his vote was the one (final vote 215 to 214) that sent the bill off to the senate to be approved before sending it back to the house.  Just to refresh your memories:

Date of Passage	Actions	How Fitzpatrick Voted
05/22/2025	Passed by House 215 Yeas and 214 Nays.  Sent to Senate.	Yea
07/01/2025	Passed by Senate 51 Yeas to 50 Nays.  Sent back to House for reconciliation	N/A
07/03/2025	Senate version passed by the House 218 Yeas to 214 Nays.	Nay

Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/all-actions?overview=closed#tabs

For some reason, unions believe the bipartisanship advances their agenda.  But just compare the unions’ efforts to cross the aisle with those of the gun lobby.  The NRA, for instance, very rarely contributes to Democrats.  Now, which group – Labor, or the gun lobby – has been most successful over the last 50 years? 

If the unions won’t support pro-labor candidates, it is up to us to do so.  Please share this information with your friends and relatives in Bucks County, and please considering making a donation to Bob Harvie’s campaign.  And while you are at it Paige Cognetti can also use your help.  She is running in a very flippable district against Robert Bresnahan, who is also enjoying union support, while personally profiting from his inside trades while in Congress.

And once again, below are the list of seats that you should click on to see how you can make a difference.  We are also planning a postcard writing campaign as well as canvassing in these districts.  Respond to this email if you are interested in either of these actions.   Remember – we are only two senate seats away from cleaner air and water, good public schools and transportation, sensible gun laws, and affordable health and housing.

PA Senate

Candidate (Democrat)	District	Count(y/ies)	Incumbent (Republican)
Eileen Harnett Albillar	SD-6	Bucks	Frank Farry
Mark Pinsley	SD-16	Bucks/Lehigh	Jarrett Coleman
Chris Thomas	SD-24	Berks/Montgomery	Tracy Pennycuick

PA House

Candidate (Democrat)	District	Count(y/ies)	Incumbent (Republican)
Kristin Egan	HD-142	Bucks	Joe Hogan
Jeff Warren	HD-137	Northampton	Joe Emrick
Elizabeth Moro	HD-160	Chester/Delaware	Craig

Thanks,

Coleman