Pro-life activist Mark Houck, raided by FBI, makes run for Congress

Pennsylvania pro-life activist and father Mark Houck who was acquitted after being raided by the FBI for alleged violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act has announced a run for Congress.  

Houck, who announced the run in early August, was raided by the FBI and held at gunpoint in front of his children in September of 2022 in relation to an October 2021 incident in which a Planned Parenthood escort told Houck's then-12-year-old son "vile and nasty things" while the father and son were standing 50 feet from the clinic's entrance and praying. Houck told the escort, Bruce Love, to stop harassing his son, which Love did not, and the confrontation ended in Houck pushing Love away. Houck has since been acquitted.  

Speaking about his run for office, Houck said, "I know firsthand what it’s like to be attacked by the federal government. I know firsthand how the enemy of the state can be created by virtue of your faith. And I want to protect the 1st District of Pennsylvania and all families in the 1st District from that ever happening to them."

Houck is taking on Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in the First District of Pennsylvania. Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican, is known to be a more bipartisan member of Congress. Houck is bringing the topic of abortion to the forefront of his campaign.  

In an interview with LifeSite News, Houck said he has a duty to promote a campaign based on his duty to "restore faith, family, and freedom." 

"The child doesn’t deserve the death penalty, and the reality of it is, we are further victimizing the mother," Houck said about his pro-life platform in another interview with 1210 WPHT. "And, so, once we start recognizing that, we’ll realize that rape and incest is not a good excuse to terminate a human being." 

Houck added that he is "not going to mudsling" against Fitzpatrick in the election and will pursue the campaign with "integrity." 

Fitzpatrick has been primaried before by candidates to his right and doesn't have a record of supporting "hardcore pro-lifers" a Republican consultant said. 

Houck's campaign page lists his platform positions so far that include protecting "citizens’ rights & freedoms" and that he "will bring integrity to Washington, DC & prevent the government from interfering with the constitutional rights of the American citizen.” 

Other issues include promoting school choice, addressing fatherlessness, and funding a strong military without political agendas.