Leaked clip reveals vulnerable Pennsylvania Dem’s thoughts on Trump supporters: ‘Horde of budding blood-and-soil fascists’

PITTSBURGH — An explosive unearthed podcast clip exposes swing-district Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) slamming former President Donald Trump’s supporters as a “horde of budding blood-and-soil fascists.”

The attorney, then a University of Pittsburgh legal and policy scholar, made the comments in a 2020 appearance on “Save Us From The Johns” — a politics podcast that’s since been renamed “Save Us From The Op-Eds.”

“Day-job work right now is very focused on election protection,” Deluzio said of his work at Pitt. “And that’s, broadly speaking, making sure this maniac in the White House and his, you know, horde of budding blood-and-soil fascists don’t suppress the vote. And that is basically keeping me and everyone else who’s doing that work very busy, in Pennsylvania and everywhere else.”

Deluzio, 39, represents Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, which covers Beaver County and part of Allegheny County in suburban Pittsburgh. He was first elected there — one of seven House districts the Cook Partisan Voting Index rates “even” — in 2022, winning 53.4% of the vote against Republican challenger Jeremy Shaffer.

This year, Deluzio faces GOP state representative and Iraq War veteran Rob Mercuri in the general election. Representing Allegheny County in the Pennsylvania statehouse since 2021, Mercuri serves on the body’s Education, Finance and Government Oversight committees.

Deluzio is not the only vulnerable Pennsylvania House Democrat to have disparaged constituents.

Last week, The Post reported that Rep. Susan Wild locked her Facebook account after being called out for a bizarre comment she made on the platform calling a veteran she encountered at a Memorial Day parade homophobic.

Wild — who is seeking her fourth term in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District — has also expressed dismay about the redistricting of rural, red-leaning Carbon County into her territory.

Back in January, Wild said Carbon County voters had “drank the Trump Kool-Aid” by overwhelmingly supporting Republican candidates.

And during a virtual meet-and-greet in July 2022, Wild said she needed to “school” these voters on their strong support for Trump.