After opting out of an endorsement in the 2022 GOP primary, the Pennsylvania Republican Party Saturday unanimously backed David McCormick for U.S. Senate.
The committee members fell in line behind the former Bridgewater Associates CEO as the party’s nominee in next year’s showdown against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey Jr.
“I am deeply humbled to receive the unanimous endorsement of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. United as one, Republicans across Pennsylvania will win. We will defeat Bob Casey and bring strong leadership to Washington on behalf of the commonwealth,” McCormick said as he accepted the state party’s endorsement
McCormick had been courted by national and state Republicans to run, and his candidacy gives the GOP a high-profile candidate with the ability to finance his own race that’s expected to be one of the most expensive in the country.
McCormick on Saturday once again took aim at Casey, telling the crowd it lives in “one of the most consequential great states in this country, and we have one of the least consequential senators.”
He charged that Casey “has done virtually nothing” during his years in office and emphasized that the senator’s “voted lockstep” with President Biden.
The race is seen as one of the most critical in the country in 2024, as Democrats seek to defend their slim 51-49 majority in the Senate.
A year ago, Keystone State Republicans remained on the sidelines rather than backing a candidate in a bruising primary that saw celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz edge McCormick. One of the keys to Oz’s triumph was a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
When asked about his rationale for running again in 2024, McCormick told WHTM-TV’s “This Week in Pennsylvania” that it was an easy decision.
“It’s the same motivation is have from running the first time,” said McCormick. “I’m a Pennsylvania kid, I was born and raised here, and I’ve really lived the American dream. I’ve had everything Pennsylvania and this great country has to offer, and I think this country is headed in the wrong direction. I think it’s being challenged economically, militarily, spiritually and I think we need new leadership.”
The Pennsylvania GOP also endorsed two other candidates for statewide office – incumbent State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and incumbent Auditor General Tim DeFoor.
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2 Responses
This feels a bit like an over-correction from the 2022 Primary fiasco. McCormick isn’t a particularly strong candidate, and that was even before him and Oz went nuclear on each other. If there’s enough self-awareness on the part of the PA GOP that sees McCormick’s role as to not be “ticket poison” the way Mastriano would have been, and at least have Casey have to fight and spend a bit, and understand that an actual win will be a longshot then it’s makes more sense. But if they are truly are trying to flip PA, then a fresher face with broad suburban appeal would have been the way to go.
I can’t wait for this wealthy elite carpetbagger to lose to our Senator Bob Casey.