Wachspress Quits Democratic Race For Congress

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — Pennsbury school board member Debbie Wachspress has abandoned her campaign for the Democratic nomination to represent Bucks County in Congress.

Wachspress had racked up several key endorsements and held a hefty fundraising lead over her Democratic rivals in the race to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. But, Thursday afternoon, she cited "lies and distortions" in her decision to withdraw from the race.

"Unfortunately, I now find myself in a situation where my family is going to suffer — with this recent offensive and completely false narrative of who I am — and my candidacy will also," Wachspress said in a written statement. "It is clear to me that these lies and distortions will be too big a distraction to overcome."

She did not give specifics, but the announcement came after reports surfaced of a pair of lawsuits filed against Pennsbury by two former administrators. In one of them, Wachspress is accused of using racial epithets and other offensive terms during an executive session of the school board.

Wachspress refuted the claims in a statement Wednesday, saying she had been recounting an incident that happened to her when she was a child and calling the claims "complete and utter distortions."

"I care too much about sending a Democrat to Congress to stay in the race under these circumstances," Wachspress said in her statement Thursday. "So today, I am withdrawing my candidacy for Congress in PA-01. I’ve always been a doer, an organizer, a fighter. Despite the injustices and distortions that led to this decision, I will continue to fight as I have done my entire life for the future of our community."

Wachspress had received the endorsement of Scott Wallace, the 2018 Democratic candidate who opposed Fitzpatrick, and had raised significantly more money for her campaign than her Democratic competitors.

But Christina Finello, an Ivyland Borough Coucil member and Bucks County courts solicitor, had received the important endorsement of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, as well as that of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee (The First District includes all of Bucks and a sliver of eastern Montgomery County).

Wachspress threw her support behind Finello on Thursday.

"Christina has run a strong grassroots campaign and will be a tenacious fighter for the people of this district," she said.