HARRISBURG, Pa. — In a significant move for Republicans, David McCormick has secured a crucial seat in the U.S. Senate for Pennsylvania, defeating three-term Democratic Senator Bob Casey in the recent elections. McCormick, a former CEO of a major hedge fund, ran a campaign that criticized Casey’s policies, linking them to inflation, social unrest, and global conflicts.
This election marks an essential victory, helping the Republican Party strengthen its presence in the Senate, which they regained earlier this week. At 59 years old, McCormick has successfully retaken a GOP position in Pennsylvania that had slipped away in 2022, fulfilling a strategic bet made by party leaders who rallied behind his candidacy.
Drawing from his extensive networks in government, politics, and finance, McCormick leveraged his background as a former CEO and his experience in the Bush administration to gather substantial support for his campaign. This victory over Casey is particularly striking, as Casey has been a dominant figure in Pennsylvania politics—associated with a previous two-term governor and distinguished as the longest-serving Democrat in state Senate history. Before this election, Casey had won six statewide elections since 1996.
Throughout his campaign, McCormick consistently painted Casey as ineffective, branding him a weak career politician and an ally of President Biden and Vice President Harris. He promised to bring new leadership to the Senate seat, contrasting his vision with that of his opponent. Additionally, McCormick’s campaign was bolstered by significant financial backing from wealthy investors and allies within the hedge fund industry.
This marks McCormick’s second attempt at a Senate seat; this time, he enjoyed a clearer path with former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Previously, he faced a close competition against Dr. Mehmet Oz—also endorsed by Trump—in a costly seven-candidate primary in 2022.
McCormick’s impressive credentials include serving in the Gulf War, obtaining a Ph.D. from Princeton, and leading the online auction company FreeMarkets Inc., which had sizable prominence during the technology boom. He has also held positions on various boards, including one under Trump’s Defense Advisory Board. However, McCormick faced challenges, particularly regarding his stance on abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade. Despite initially celebrating the ruling, he ultimately advocated against a federal abortion ban, asserting that he would uphold Pennsylvania’s law permitting abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Accusations regarding his wealthy background and connections to Connecticut surfaced throughout the campaign, labeling him a “carpetbagger” attempting to purchase his way into a Senate position. Although he maintained a residence in Connecticut while recently buying a home in Pittsburgh, McCormick emphasized his Pennsylvania roots, discussing his upbringing and high school wrestling experiences that culminated in attending the U.S. military academy at West Point. His family legacy includes his late father, who served as the inaugural chancellor of Pennsylvania’s state university system, a post created by Casey’s father.
Despite his efforts, McCormick occasionally fell into traps that fueled criticisms of his outsider image, notably mispronouncing a popular local beer’s name. Furthermore, scrutiny arose around his hedge fund’s investments, particularly regarding shares in Chinese companies linked to military and surveillance concerns. Throughout the campaign, McCormick sought to address issues contrary to Casey and the Biden administration, particularly focusing on unrest in the Middle East and immigration matters at the U.S.-Mexico border.
To appeal to Jewish voters, McCormick visited the Israel-Gaza border, engaging with communities statewide and criticizing Casey’s approach to antisemitism and support for Israel amid escalating conflicts. Additionally, he voiced his support for Trump’s stance on immigration, advocating for the deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal records and suggesting proactive U.S. military measures aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking from Mexico, a proposal that has sparked considerable debate.
