Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick piled up about 75 percent of the vote to gain the Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District, according to unofficial results Tuesday night.

Fitzpatrick, who called his victory margin "humbling," easily outpaced a field consisting of Solebury Committeewoman Gloria Carlineo, financial adviser Ira Hoffman and James Jones, a businessman with a military background.

The victory sets up a rematch between Fitzpatrick and two-term Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy, who was unopposed in Tuesday's primary. In 2006, Murphy edged the Republican by 1,500 votes in a race where nearly 250,000 went to the polls.

Fitzpatrick went right after Murphy on Tuesday night, saying "he has a record that deserves inspection, and it's a record he'll have a tough time defending."

"I've been nominated to be a spokesman for the men and women of Bucks County to take their country back," he said. "They have asked that I speak out against a very liberal Patrick Murphy, his policies of bigger government, higher taxes and a ballooning national debt."

Jones, the lone candidate to enter the race after Fitzpatrick got in, said he was "surprised (Fitzpatrick's) numbers are so great. It speaks volumes."

Once Fitzpatrick entered the primary on Jan. 23, the 10th Republican to do so, seven others quickly dropped out, figuring Fitzpatrick's skills to put together an organization would be too much to overcome. That proved true in fundraising, as Fitzpatrick raised about $650,000, according to the Federal Election Commission. His top competitor, Carlineo, took in about $36,000 in contributions, not including an $80,000 personal loan to her campaign.

Two days after his entry, Fitzpatrick called for an open primary, which mollified tea party groups. A Bucks County Commissioner for 10 years, Fitzpatrick holds sway within the county Republican Committee, and they agreed to not endorse a candidate.

Fitzpatrick then called for term limits and said if elected he would only serve three terms. His trio of competitors all agreed on term limits as well.

The 46-year-old attorney, who overcame colon cancer since his congressional stint, also has called on Murphy to limit spending during the campaign.

In their contest four years ago, Fitzpatrick outspent Murphy $3 million to $2.4 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending.

Tuesday, Murphy wasted no time getting into battle mode.

In a news release, he called for "at least eight public debates" this fall. He then asked Fitzpatrick "to clarify which candidate he should expect to show up at the debates: Former Congressman Mike 'Top 25 Most Liberal Republicans' Fitzpatrick or the new Mike 'Tea-Party' Fitzpatrick."

Murphy asked Fitzpatrick to "explain where he actually stands on global warming, on policies that lead to the outsourcing of American jobs, and on the assault weapons ban."

The release said "It's difficult for the congressman to know which candidate he'll be debating since Mike's record doesn't remotely resemble his rhetoric today."

Murphy also has called a news conference for this morning with environmental and labor leaders who he said endorsed Fitzpatrick in 2006 but are now backing him.

In the primary, Carlineo was outspoken about Fitzpatrick's congressional record. She criticized him for so-called "FitzFlops," citing his reversal on two charged issues - card check, where workers could form unions without a private vote, and Cap and Trade, which forces a limit on gas emissions.

She also ripped him for calling her a "recent immigrant" to this country in a radio forum. The 40-year-old Carlineo moved to Florida from Puerto Rico with her family about 25 years ago.

Tuesday, Carlineo called out the Bucks GOP for "dirty politics" after sample ballots were found at some polling sites with Fitzpatrick's name circled to imply an official endorsement. Carlineo also said Republican Party members were using highlighters to make Fitzpatrick's name stand out.

For her part, Carlineo supported private accounts for Social Security and months ago predicted immigration reform would become a major issue during the campaign.

She also said the growth of government is unsustainable. "We've got to stop reinforcing the cycle where when the private sector loses a job, the public sector absorbs it."

Hoffman, 54, harped on the government's deficit spending and pushed his eight-point plan for the 8th District.

It included terminating both the Department of Education and Department of Energy.

He is a big supporter of Wisconsin conservative Congressman Paul Ryan's "Roadmap for America," a proposal that would cut both taxes and entitlement programs.

Hoffman, an investment adviser from Solebury and president of Hoffman Wealth Solutions, said the people of America have a net worth of about $40 trillion but the unfunded liabilities of Medicare are running about $38 trillion. "It's nowhere near sustainable," he said. "We'd have to liquidate the country and sell it to China."

Jones, 54, owner and CEO of QSI Consulting, a human resources firm, said he supports actions taken by Arizona to contend with illegal immigration.

Jones railed at President Obama's policies, criticizing the president for "hiking the debt, nationalizing the banks and automobile industries, increasing taxes that cripple industry and putting in place a health care system that's going to turn us into a socialized country."

Jones, of Middletown, said his 17-year Navy background, which includes service in Vietnam, Beirut and the first Gulf War helped make him the "only candidate that can beat Patrick Murphy."

After Tuesday night, Republicans hope he's wrong.

1 seat - 2 years

Republicans
With 274 0f 304 districts reporting
Gloria E. Carlineo 5,689
Michael G. Fitzpatrick 28,774
Ira Hoffman 2,200
James Jones 1,093

Democrat
Patrick J. Murphy (I) (Uncontested)