Trump-backed PA Senate candidate flips longtime Dem seat red in nail-biter election
Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick emerged victorious in a high-stakes election against longtime Democrat Sen. Bob Casey on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the Keystone State. Casey, a stalwart within the Democratic Party, has served in the Senate since 2008 and has been a consistent supporter of President Biden’s legislative agenda, voting with him 98.5% of the time according to FiveThirtyEight data.
The Casey name carries deep roots in Pennsylvania, with Bob Casey Sr., the senator’s father, serving as the state’s governor from 1987 to 1995. Despite his long tenure in office, Casey faced what was described as his most challenging re-election effort to date, going head-to-head with Republican businessman Dave McCormick.
McCormick, an Army combat veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, served in key roles in the George W. Bush administration, including as undersecretary of commerce for industry and security and undersecretary of the treasury for international affairs. His background in both the military and finance positioned him as a formidable opponent to Casey.
The Pennsylvania Senate race garnered national attention as the state once again emerged as a key battleground in the presidential race. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, while Biden claimed victory in 2020. With the race rated as “leans Democrat” by various political analysts, both candidates engaged in a heated campaign, focusing on key issues such as immigration, abortion, inflation, and law enforcement.
Biden campaigned for Casey, praising him as a role model for children, while Trump endorsed McCormick, highlighting his success in business and commitment to public service. The two candidates clashed on a range of issues, including abortion access, inflation, border security, and energy policy, reflecting the deep ideological divide in the state.
Despite facing criticism for his stance on defunding the police and his handling of inflation, Casey campaigned on a platform of protecting abortion rights, addressing inflation as “greedflation,” and promoting environmental protection and infrastructure development. In contrast, McCormick focused on reining in inflation, securing the border, supporting law enforcement, defending gun rights, and expanding the energy sector in Pennsylvania.
The closely watched election highlighted the contrasting visions of the two candidates and their respective parties, with McCormick ultimately emerging victorious in a hard-fought battle. As the political landscape in Pennsylvania continues to evolve, the outcome of this race could have far-reaching implications for the state and the nation as a whole.
