Robert Harvie, a Bucks County commissioner and high school teacher, is running as the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican incumbent Brian K. Fitzpatrick.

Harvie won the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026, defeating Lucia Simonelli, according to WHYY. He launched his congressional campaign in April 2025.

On his campaign website, Harvie says he has had an over 90% bipartisan voting record as county commissioner and has focused on mental health care access, public safety, sustainability, job growth and housing.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Race: U.S. House, Pennsylvania 1st Congressional District
  • Residence: Falls Township, Bucks County (moved there in 1999, according to his campaign)
  • Hometown: Bristol Borough (born and raised, according to his campaign)
  • Education: High school diploma, Bristol High School (1989); bachelor's degree in history, George Washington University (1993, magna cum laude, according to his campaign); master's degree in education, Holy Family University (2000)

Experience and public service

Harvie is a fourth-generation Bucks County resident, according to the DCCC.

He was elected to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners in November 2019 and sworn in on Jan. 6, 2020, according to his campaign. Along with Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Harvie flipped the county board to Democratic control for the first time in nearly four decades, WHYY reported. He was named board chair on Jan. 5, 2022, re-elected in November 2023 and sworn in for a second term on Jan. 2, 2024. He was named vice chair and then chair again during reorganization on Jan. 6, 2025, according to the Bucks County website.

Before joining the county board, Harvie served on the Falls Township Board of Supervisors from 2003 to 2020 and served as chairperson from 2008 to 2020, according to BallotReady. He also served on the Falls Township Planning Commission, according to his campaign.

Harvie has worked as social studies department chair at Bucks County Technical High School since 2000, according to BallotReady. He previously taught at Cherokee High School from 1994 to 2000. While at Bucks County Technical High School, Harvie said he initiated the Beyond the Books program, which brought area military veterans into classrooms to share their experiences with students.

On the issues

Harvie outlines his policy priorities on his campaign website. The positions below are the candidate's own stated views.

Healthcare: Harvie says he would protect Medicare and Medicaid, expand access to affordable care and lower prescription drug costs. He says he supports lowering the Medicare buy-in age from 65 to 55 and expanding Medicare's authority to negotiate drug prices.

Taxes and cost of living: Harvie says he would push for middle-class tax relief while closing loopholes for the ultra-wealthy and big businesses. He says he would work to repeal what he calls Trump tariffs that he says are driving up grocery and energy prices. He also says he would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Government reform: Harvie says he supports banning congressional stock trading, a lifetime ban on former members of Congress lobbying the federal government, independent redistricting commissions and overturning the Citizens United decision. He says he has pledged not to accept corporate PAC money.

Public safety: Harvie says he would increase funding for local law enforcement and expand co-responder programs that embed social workers with police departments.

Housing: Harvie says he would push for federal investment in starter homes, cut regulatory barriers and support local builders.

Endorsements

Harvie has received the following endorsements, according to the DCCC and BallotReady:

  • DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee)
  • Pennsylvania - Bucks County Democrats
  • Montgomery County Democratic Committee

The Doylestown-Buckingham Record did not receive a completed questionnaire from this candidate. This profile is based on public records, the candidate's campaign website and election data.