Former President Donald Trump threw his support behind Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate candidate, David McCormick, on Saturday, urging his followers in the state to rally behind him in one of the year’s most fiercely contested Senate races. This endorsement marks a significant turnabout, as it comes two years after Trump actively opposed McCormick in Pennsylvania’s Senate GOP primary. Now, their alignment creates an interesting dynamic as they share the ticket in a state pivotal for control of both the White House and Senate.
Speaking at a rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, Trump praised McCormick as “a good man” who is committed to running a solid campaign. Despite McCormick’s absence at the rally, Trump lauded his intelligence and past success, acknowledging the sacrifices he’s made to enter the political arena.
McCormick, who divides his time between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where he resides, was not present at the rally due to a prior engagement with his daughter for parents’ weekend, according to a campaign spokesperson. McCormick took to social media, posting on the X platform: “Thank you, President Trump! Together, we will secure a significant victory for Pennsylvania and America in November.”
As the former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, McCormick aims to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, a prominent figure in Pennsylvania politics seeking his fourth term. Unlike many Republican contenders in Senate battlegrounds who endorsed Trump early in the GOP presidential primary or campaigned for him,
McCormick did not seek Trump’s approval until Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign after Super Tuesday defeats, leaving Trump as the last major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination. In the 2022 seven-way GOP primary race to succeed retiring Republican Sen.
Pat Toomey, McCormick, like others, sought Trump’s endorsement. McCormick recounted that during their meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump indicated that to win the primary, McCormick would need to affirm that the 2020 election was stolen. McCormick stated that he declined. Three days later, Trump endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz and subsequently criticized McCormick extensively during his campaign appearances.