PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia-area Ukrainians are quite aware of the necessity of supporting political candidates – not only in terms of volunteering in their campaigns but also in organizing fund-raisers to benefit those campaigns.
The mid-term elections for the U.S. Congress have sparked an increased flurry of fund-raisers in the Ukrainian community, where the supporters of both the Democratic and the Republican parties can cross the aisle to support a candidate who they feel best deserves their financial support mainly because of their actions on behalf of Ukraine.
Running for Congress in these mid-term elections are Congressman Brendan Boyle, a Democrat, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican. Due to gerrymandering and the actions of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, new districts have been created. Rep. Boyle is running in a new district that is in the city of Philadelphia, and Rep. Fitzpatrick is running in a new district that encompasses the Philadelphia suburbs.
State legislator Madeleine Dean, a Democrat, is running for Congress in a new district that encompasses part of Montgomery and Berks counties. Businessman Dan David, a Republican, is running in the same district as Ms. Dean. Ukrainian Americans have come out in support of both candidates.
![](https://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/fitzpatrick-1170x955.jpg)
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (center) with (from left) Oxana Holubowsky, Nila Pawliuk, Mary Tatunchak and Chrystia Senyk.