Politics in Pennsylvania’s 1st District is a tightrope walk. You’ve got a Republican congressman, Brian Fitzpatrick, representing a sea of voters who largely lean Democratic or independent, especially in the suburbs of Bucks County. So, when people ask, "Did Brian Fitzpatrick vote for the Big Beautiful Bill?" the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It’s actually a "both," and that’s exactly where things get messy for the man often called the most bipartisan member of the House.
If you’re looking for a quick headline: Fitzpatrick voted for the initial version of the bill in May 2025, but he voted against the final version that actually became law in July 2025.
It was a move that left both sides of the aisle scratching their heads—or screaming. To Trump’s base, he was a traitor for jumping ship at the last second. To local Democrats like his challenger Bob Harvie, he was a calculated politician who helped the bill survive its most vulnerable moment only to wash his hands of it when the math showed it would pass without him anyway.
The Drama of the Big Beautiful Bill Act
The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" wasn't just another piece of legislation. It was a $3.3 trillion monster of a budget reconciliation package pushed by the Trump administration in early 2025. It had everything: massive tax cuts, a $5 trillion debt ceiling hike, and significant changes to social safety nets like SNAP and Medicaid.
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Initially, Fitzpatrick was on board. In May 2025, the bill came to the House floor for a preliminary vote. Fitzpatrick cast a "yes," helping the measure squeak through in a 218-217 nail-biter. Without his support right then, the bill might have died in its infancy. He argued at the time that the House version protected middle-class tax cuts and didn't touch the "red lines" he’d set—specifically Medicaid funding levels.
Then the bill went to the Senate.
When it came back to the House in July 2025, the "Big Beautiful Bill" looked a lot different. The Senate had tacked on deeper cuts to Medicaid and adjusted how the provider tax worked, which Fitzpatrick claimed would devastate rural hospitals in Pennsylvania. During a marathon overnight session on July 3, 2025, Fitzpatrick became the only Republican to hold out on a procedural vote.
He stayed firm. In the final 218-214 vote that sent the bill to President Trump’s desk, Brian Fitzpatrick joined Thomas Massie and every single Democrat in voting "no."
Why the "No" Vote Still Haunts Him
You’d think a "no" vote on a controversial GOP bill would win him points with the left, but politics is rarely that kind. His opponents were quick to point out the timing. Because the Republicans had secured enough "hawks" to pass the bill regardless of Fitzpatrick’s stance, his "no" didn't actually stop anything.
"He owns that first vote," says Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie. "He could have killed it in May, but he chose his party bosses. Voting 'no' in July was just political theater because he knew it would pass anyway."
The backlash from the right was just as fierce. President Trump didn't hold back, reportedly saying he’d done Fitzpatrick "a big personal favor" and felt burned by the rejection. Conservative activists like Scott Pressler even suggested a primary challenge, noting that Fitzpatrick was "on the list" of Republicans who failed to back the administration’s signature legislative achievement.
Key Provisions that Sparked the Conflict:
- The Medicaid Gap: The final bill cut federal Medicaid funding by roughly $930 billion over a decade. Fitzpatrick argued the Senate's version broke his "red line" regarding state-by-state spending caps.
- SNAP Requirements: The bill raised work requirements for "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWDs) from age 55 up to 65.
- Tax Overhaul: It made the 2018 tax cuts permanent but also repealed green energy credits for EVs, which is a big deal in a district with a lot of suburban commuters.
- The Debt Ceiling: A $5 trillion increase was baked in, which actually turned off some of the more "Freedom Caucus" style Republicans, though for different reasons than Fitzpatrick.
The Health Care Subsidy Gambit
Fast forward to early 2026, and Fitzpatrick is trying to pivot. Knowing his "no" vote on the Big Beautiful Bill made him enemies on the right and failed to win over the left, he’s spent the last few months leading a charge to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
In January 2026, he was one of only four Republicans to sign a Democratic-led discharge petition to force a vote on a three-year extension of health insurance tax credits. It was a bold—some say desperate—move to show voters in Levittown and Newtown that he isn't just a rubber stamp for the GOP.
He told NPR that letteing the subsidies expire would be a "disaster" for his constituents. Honestly, it’s a classic Fitzpatrick move: distance yourself from the party on a high-visibility issue right before an election year.
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The Verdict on His Record
So, did Brian Fitzpatrick vote for the Big Beautiful Bill? He voted to advance it, but he didn't vote to pass it.
Whether you see him as a "principled moderate" or a "calculated flip-flopper" depends entirely on which of those two votes you think mattered more. If you care about the fact that the bill exists at all, his May 2025 "yes" is the smoking gun. If you care about the specific, harsher cuts added by the Senate, his July 2025 "no" is his defense.
What You Should Do Next
If you live in PA-01 or just follow federal policy, here is how you can stay informed on where this stands:
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- Check the Roll Call: Don't take a campaign's word for it. Look up Roll Call Vote 165 (the initial passage) and the final July 2025 vote on the House Clerk's website to see the exact tallies.
- Monitor the ACA Subsidy Bill: Follow H.R. 1834 in the Senate. Fitzpatrick’s support for this is his main shield against attacks regarding the Big Beautiful Bill's impact on healthcare.
- Watch the Primary Filings: Keep an eye on the April 2026 primary deadlines. If a Trump-backed challenger enters the race, it will be a direct referendum on Fitzpatrick’s "no" vote from last July.
- Evaluate the Medicaid Impact: Look for local reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. They are currently tracking how many people in Bucks and Montgomery counties are losing coverage due to the provisions in the bill Fitzpatrick ultimately opposed but helped start.
Fitzpatrick is betting that his district values "independence" more than "loyalty." Whether that bet pays off will be the biggest story of the 2026 midterms in Pennsylvania.