U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has released campaign advertisements featuring headlines from articles written by Dave Sommers, a personal associate who has received payments from Fitzpatrick’s campaign. The advertisements, appearing in television and digital formats, cite articles published on Patch, a hyperlocal platform that allows community members to post unedited content.
Sommers has a history with the Fitzpatrick family, including payments and reimbursements from the campaigns of Brian Fitzpatrick and his late brother, Mike Fitzpatrick, dating back to 2010. Federal Election Commission records show the current campaign paid Sommers $500 for "office setup services" in 2022. Additionally, Sommers attended Brian Fitzpatrick’s wedding in June 2026 and has appeared in social media photos wearing "Team Fitz" apparel.
The articles cited in the ads contain various allegations against Fitzpatrick’s Democratic opponent, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, including claims regarding FBI files and public statements. Harvie has denied these characterizations and filed a defamation lawsuit against the pro-Fitzpatrick Defending America PAC in August. Harvie also sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Fitzpatrick campaign in July.
Sommers is a retired reporter who served a six-month prison sentence in 2019 for federal wildlife trafficking involving diamondback terrapins. Prosecutors in that case alleged he earned more than $500,000 over six years. In 2022, Sommers was also charged with stealing a campaign sign belonging to a Republican primary challenger, Alex Entin. Neither Sommers nor the Fitzpatrick campaign responded to requests for comment regarding their relationship.
The scale of this activity includes at least eight articles authored by Sommers since late February and multiple advertisements circulated across southeast Pennsylvania. For voters, the challenge is distinguishing between independent journalism and content produced by individuals affiliated with a campaign. This occurs as candidates across the country increasingly use platforms like Patch, Medium, and Substack to present partisan messaging in a format that resembles traditional news reporting.
The next steps in this contest depend on the outcome of the November 2026 election and the progression of Harvie’s defamation lawsuit against the Defending America PAC. House GOP campaign spokesperson Reilly Richardson defended the campaign’s strategy by accusing Harvie of using "Democrat activists" as "concerned voters" in his own advertisements. No court dates for the defamation suit or specific deadlines for the cease-and-desist actions were reported.