# Lucia Simonelli PhD mathematician and former U.S. Senate energy/climate scientific adviser running in the 2026 Democratic primary for [[PA-01-2026]] against five-term Republican [[Brian Fitzpatrick]]. Based in Quakertown (Montgomery County). Platform: **affordability, universal healthcare, climate/energy**. Supported by **Indivisible Greater Jenkintown** and **Indivisible Lower Merion**. Tracks AIPAC-linked general-election positioning. Q1 2026: **~$50K raised** — significantly under-resourced vs. primary rival [[Robert Harvie Jr.]] (~$430K) and dwarfed by Fitzpatrick's $7.66M COH. ## 2026 cycle - **Primary date**: 2026-05-19 (Pennsylvania) - Primary is effectively two-candidate (Simonelli vs. Harvie); Harvie is the establishment consensus pick, likely winning 60/40–65/35 - Simonelli represents the grassroots / Indivisible progressive wing of the PA-01 Democratic coalition ## Background - PhD in mathematics (institution and field — NEEDS VERIFICATION) - Prior role as U.S. Senate scientific adviser on energy and climate policy — NEEDS VERIFICATION of senator/staff dates - Quakertown, Montgomery County resident - First federal-office run ## Ideological positioning - Progressive Democrat; science/policy-expert lane - Climate/energy and universal healthcare distinguish her from Harvie's more centrist economic framing - The grassroots-progressive-scientist archetype — contrast with Harvie's county-commissioner establishment lane ## Related - [[PA-01-2026]] — 2026 race file - [[Brian Fitzpatrick]] — Republican incumbent - [[Robert Harvie Jr.]] — D primary front-runner ## Sources - [Ballotpedia — PA-01 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania's_1st_Congressional_District_election,_2026)