Mark Houck, a staunch anti-abortion activist who recently lost his bid for Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, has a controversial history of anti-abortion protests and inflammatory activism spanning nearly two decades. Houck’s election loss comes as a relief for Democrats, who had planned to emphasize his extreme anti-abortion views to portray the Republican candidate as a threat to reproductive rights. However, Houck’s opponent, moderate Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, who opposes House-passed abortion restrictions, defeated Houck and will face Democrat Ashley Ehasz in the general election.
Prior to his recent congressional bid, Houck was arrested and later acquitted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for shoving a Planned Parenthood volunteer in 2021. After his arrest, Houck’s family claimed that a SWAT team of 20 to 30 armed agents had raided their house, an allegation that the FBI has denied. The incident gained national attention and made Houck a political martyr in the eyes of the anti-abortion movement.
Houck’s activism extends beyond anti-abortion protests. He is a member of the Catholic group King’s Men, which opposes pornography, abortion, and same-sex attraction. Houck has also protested outside an adult entertainment store for five years and has campaigned against environmental and energy regulations.
Despite his notoriety, Houck’s extreme views did not resonate with voters in the moderate Pennsylvania district. Fitzpatrick, who has consistently won his past elections, will now face Democrat Ashley Ehasz, a former Army helicopter pilot, in the general election. The county has been trending leftward, which could pose a challenge for Republicans in the state.
