With 2nd term secured, Deluzio to reach across the aisle to GOP, but cautiously

Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio on Wednesday vowed to reach across the aisle to work with Republicans where he could and to hold them accountable when their proposals could hurt his constituents after an election night that saw the GOP take control of the White House and the U.S. Senate.

Control of the U.S. House of Representatives was still up for grabs Wednesday.

Deluzio defeated Pennsylvania state Rep. Rob Mercuri to secure a second term in Washington and maintain Democratic control of Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, a seat the Republican Party had hoped to swing in its favor.

Deluzio, 40, of Fox Chapel, told TribLive on Wednesday his priorities won’t change based on who the president is or who holds a majority in Congress.

Regardless of which party ultimately wins the U.S. House, Deluzio said, “It’s not going to change the imperative to work with the other party.”

Seeking bipartisanship

Deluzio said he’ll continue focusing on issues he prioritized in his first term, like bringing down consumer costs, supporting union jobs and bolstering local manufacturing.

But the congressman said that Donald Trump’s return to the White House will almost certainly stall his hope of federal legislation protecting abortion access, something he has vocally supported.

“I’m not under any illusion that a Donald Trump presidency will sign a bill protecting abortion rights, but if there are places where we can work together in divided government, I’m all in,” he said.

Railway safety, he said, could be one such place where bipartisanship could prevail.

Deluzio has been a strong advocate for improved railway safety after the 2023 fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near his congressional district, which encompasses all of Beaver County and several suburban Allegheny County communities.

The railway safety effort has received bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, with Vice President-elect JD Vance backing the measure in the Senate.

“I will do everything I can to mitigate any dangerous or bad things that might come from the policies of this administration,” Deluzio said. “I’m going to hold them to the task.”

There’s a flip side.

“Where there are places with this administration — or any other — that we can get good things done for this region, I’m game there, too,” he added.

Deluzio said bipartisanship will be paramount as Congress is tasked with passing national spending bills during President Joe Biden’s lame-duck period and as officials look to invest further in infrastructure.

Focus on the economy

His “Make Stuff Here” economic agenda focuses on growing the union workforce, bringing more jobs to the region and implementing better trade enforcement policies. It’s another area where he believes the two sides may find common ground.

The focus on economic improvements, Deluzio said, may also be a key reason why he outperformed other Democrats on Election Day.

“Parts of the Democratic Party in parts of the country weren’t focusing as much on a strong economic message,” Deluzio said, contrasting that to his campaign, which emphasized taking on corporate price gouging, growing domestic manufacturing and creating more jobs.

“In my party, that has to be much more of our message,” he said.

Deluzio said he believes his “strong message about defending freedom, whether that was reproductive rights or our democracy,” may have also helped him secure a victory.

“I’m humbled to get another two years to do this work,” he said. “I focus on issues that matter to people in my district.”

Critical but optimistic

Though Deluzio largely emphasized a desire to work together beyond party politics, he also voiced criticisms of Trump and reiterated he was hopeful the Democratic Party could win the U.S. House as a check against Republican power or a potential nationwide abortion ban.

“I don’t want to minimize the threats,” he said.

An Iraq War veteran, Deluzio said Trump’s disparagement of Americans who died in war as “suckers” and “losers” was unacceptable. But even as he criticized the former president for such past transgressions, he struck an optimistic tone.

“I hope now that he is given this great trust to be our president again that he approaches the job differently, that he treats others and the office with the decorum it requires,” Deluzio said.