Meet The Bucks County Democrat Who's Just Announced Her Congressional Campaign

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Democrat from Bensalem has just announced her bid to represent Pennsylvania's first congressional district in 2022.

In a video showing her walking through the streets of Bucks County accompanied by background rock music, she introduced herself and her candidacy: "My name is Ashley Ehasz, and I am running for Congress because I am angry."

At 17, Ehasz joined the army and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, before going on to serve as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Aviation branch. While there, she trained to become an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter pilot; she says she graduated as the only woman in her class.

"I learned to defeat the odds and carve my own path," she wrote online Tuesday.

Ehasz' candidacy will focus on the impacts of systemic inequality, according to her announcement, including hunger, financial struggle, substance abuse, and mental health issues.

During the pandemic and generally, Ehasz feels that many in Bucks County and Montgomery County have been stuck without the tools they need to succeed and thrive.

"As a kid, I never understood why my parents had it so tough," she said in the video announcing her candidacy. "But now I know. I'm angry at a system that never really gave them a shot."

Ehasz' bid for the PA-01 seat, currently held by Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, would flip the district blue. Citizens will cast their votes in this election in November of 2022.

Watching the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6 made Ehasz want to take action and see new representation in the district, she said.

"We don't need politicians like Brian Fitzpatrick, who turn their heads from their party's violent rhetoric," she wrote online. "We need new leadership."

Ehasz has also been supporting other Democratic candidates around Bucks County in the upcoming 2021 elections, including Tiffany Thomas-Smith in the race for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Mark Lomax in his bid for Sheriff.

Recently, Ehasz also showed up to Doylestown's "Bans Off Our Bodies" rally, and attended the Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial in Yardley for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Those who wish to learn more about Ehasz' candidacy can check out her Twitter.

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Got tips, story ideas, or questions in Lower Bucks County? Email kate.fishman@patch.com.