The Pennsylvania Republican and Democratic primaries are on tap for Tuesday, April 23, and neither candidate – incumbent Senator Bob Casey (D) nor his Republican challenger, David McCormick – has primary challengers.
McCormick is a West Point graduate who served with the famed 82nd Airborne Division during the Persian Gulf War. He was narrowly defeated by Mehmet Oz in the 2022 Republican primary for Pennsylvania's other Senate seat, but now, he hopes former President Trump's endorsement will help him in the upcoming general election.
"Dave McCormick, he's definitely the better choice of the two," submits Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania. "This is the second time he's run, [so] he does have some name recognition from his campaign in 2022."
And while she recognizes that "it's very hard to take out an incumbent," she does not think Sen. Casey's record will do him any favors.
"Bob Casey's voting record … is definitely not something that the average Pennsylvanian would support because he's pro-abortion; he's pro LGBTQ," Gramley notes. "Dave McCormick definitely has put on his website that he personally is pro-life. He does not support a nationwide abortion ban, but he has stated that he's pro-life."
According to Real Clear Polling, McCormick trails Casey by an average of 5.7%.
