Republican David McCormick and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey are vying for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat (Capital-Star composite from official/campaign photos)
The battle for Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes may garner the most headlines nationwide, but the race for its U.S. Senate seat may determine whether Democrats will retain control of the upper chamber, or Republicans can win enough seats to flip it. The candidates meet again Tuesday for their second and final debate, after an acrimonious first debate where each tried to portray the other as “weak” and in lock step with their party’s leadership.
Neither Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey nor GOP challenger Dave McCormick faced a serious challenger in the primary election, so the two have had their sights set on the other for the whole year, resulting in both candidates being on television since March.
The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote.
The Capital-Star invited Casey and McCormick to answer a series of questions about the issues that matter to voters as they seek to represent the commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the next six years. Neither campaign made their candidate available for an interview; Casey answered written questions and McCormick declined to participate. The McCormick portion is based on his campaign’s website, previous reporting by the Capital-Star, and statements he has made to the press.
Incumbent: Bob Casey
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), first elected in a landslide victory in 2006, is the longest serving Democratic U.S. Senator in Pennsylvania history. His 2024 race is shaping up to be his closest race to date.
Q: Most voters mention the economy and inflation as the issue most concerning for them in 2024. You’ve campaigned on the issue of “greedflation” as a driving force behind inflation and have introduced legislation to try to address it at the federal level. What more can the Senate and federal government do to provide consumers relief from higher grocery prices?
A: There’s no question families are seeing higher prices at the grocery store. That’s why I’m holding big corporations accountable for increasing the price of food and household items while raking in record profits. I’m fighting for bills that would crack down on corporate price gouging and go after companies that deceptively shrink their products at the grocery store. I worked to give Pennsylvanians immediate relief with an expanded Child Tax Credit, and I am an original co-sponsor of the Working Families Tax Relief Act, which would make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, putting more money in the pockets of working families across the Commonwealth and the nation.
Q: This is the first presidential election since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. Vice President Kamala Harris has said she would sign legislation to codify abortion rights in the constitution. If reelected, would you sponsor a bill or otherwise support efforts to legalize abortion at the national level?
A: The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and a 49-year right for women was a mistake and we’re seeing the dangerous consequences all over the country. I voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act in 2022 to restore these protections to reproductive care. I also voted to protect IVF and have consistently supported efforts to expand women’s access to family planning care and contraception. I believe that our daughters shouldn’t have fewer rights than their mothers or grandmothers, and I’ll continue to fight for reproductive rights in Washington.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey addresses the Democratic National Convention Aug. 22. 2024 (Capital-Star photo)
Q: Your opponent has accused you of being “weak” on China. What influence have American policies towards China had on Pennsylvania’s economy and what else do you think can be accomplished via legislation that would make the United States more competitive on the world stage?
A: I am a leader in the fight to stand up to China and have fought to crack down on China’s currency manipulation, and against unfair trade practices and U.S. corporations that invest in China at the expense of American workers. In the last Congress, I worked to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, so the United States does not have to rely on China for critical technologies, including semiconductor chips. I recently introduced the Combat Chinese Economic Aggression Act to strengthen American competitiveness in the global economy, crack down on trade cheating, and protect against economic and cybersecurity threats from China. My bipartisan bill, the Outbound Investment Transparency Act, passed the Senate 91-6 last year and would help us know more about investments in China that could harm our national security. I’ve also been confronting China to hold them accountable for their cheating practices that caused Pennsylvania workers to lose their jobs. In the Senate, I co-sponsored the Leveling The Playing Field 2.0 Act to protect American workers from unfair competition from overseas.
Q: The Biden administration, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign and former President Donald Trump believe that U.S. Steel should remain American owned. You’ve made clear you agree with that stance. Why is this important for Pennsylvania’s economy? Are you concerned that U.S. Steel may pull its headquarters out of Pittsburgh? What would you do to protect those jobs, should that happen?
A: Pennsylvania steel and Steelworkers have played a critical role in our economy and our history. Pennsylvania steel mills were the “Arsenal of America” during World War II, and Pennsylvania steelworkers provided the defenses needed to support Allied troops overseas. Steelworkers in Pennsylvania still serve as a critical part of our defense, manufacturing, and economy.
I have long fought to keep Pennsylvania steel plants operating, fighting against Chinese trade aggression that undermines our steel industry, opposing EPA rules that will put the steel industry out of business and negatively impact the coal industry, and fighting a Department of Energy regulation on Grain Oriented Electrical Steel that would close one of the remaining steel plants in PA.
I am fighting to keep US Steel under American ownership and to maintain the employment of Steelworkers in the Mon Valley and employees in Pittsburgh. The threats by US Steel to abandon the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania are a slap in the face to the workers who have built the company, as well as to the entire region. I continue to believe that US Steel leadership must sit down with the Steelworkers to create a joint plan to protect these jobs.
Q: What do you think are the most effective policies to address immigration at the southern border, and what would you like to see from a Harris administration? Why do you think immigration reform is relevant to Pennsylvanians?
A: Border security is a critical part of keeping our country safe. I have voted more than 25 times to invest in border security, including voting for a bipartisan border security bill that gives the President new authority to shut down the border. I believe we must secure our border and protect the safety and security of our communities, and I support comprehensive immigration reform that would allow us to do that while treating people with dignity and respect. Working across the aisle, I fought for legislation to secure more border agents and give those at the border more resources to do their jobs. I am a supporter of the DREAM Act and have fought back against child separation policies.
Fentanyl is devastating Pennsylvania communities. With my Stop Fentanyl At the Border Act, which provides resources for additional border personnel and inspection equipment at the border, I am a leader in the fight to crack down on fentanyl coming into the country at ports of entry. Any immigration and border security plan must include funding to stop illicit fentanyl from entering the U.S.
Q: What foreign policy initiatives do you think should be top priorities for the United States if you are elected to another term?
A: I believe we must protect our interests abroad with diplomatic engagement, working with allies and foreign assistance, coupled with robust investment in our national security. Our Nation is currently facing immense national security challenges, including competing with China, combating climate change alongside global allies, fighting terrorism, countering Russia’s aggression, supporting our ally in Israel and providing humanitarian aid in Gaza, and combating the threat of nuclear terrorism. I have worked to address these challenges as a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, where I have pursued a national security strategy that protects our interests, promotes human rights throughout the world, and supports those who serve our country.
Q: Medicinal marijuana has been legal in Pennsylvania since 2016. Would you support legislation that would make marijuana legal at the federal level rather than leaving it up to the individual states?
A: I support the Drug Enforcement Agency’s move to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance to allow its study for medical use, and I also support the decriminalization of recreational marijuana.
We must also turn back the most damaging policies that have levied disproportionate penalties on cannabis users and overcriminalized minor drug offenses, which have fallen disproportionately on low-income individuals and people of color. I supported President Biden’s pardon of those convicted of federal crimes for cannabis possession and have also introduced federal legislation, the Clean Slate Act to seal the federal records of those arrested for possession and non-violent offenses associated with marijuana.
Q: Former President Trump has made tariffs a key policy talking point during the 2024 campaign. Which tariffs do you think are beneficial and which tariffs would you oppose?
A: American workers can out-compete anyone in the world with a level playing field. I support targeted, strategic tariffs that support American interests and Pennsylvania workers. I strongly support the Section 232 and 301 tariffs, which were imposed on China on national security grounds, and have encouraged the administration to keep these tariffs in place. Whether it’s cracking down on Chinese currency manipulation, introducing legislation to stop unsustainable imports of Mexican steel, or calling on the administration to reimpose tariffs on Asian solar product importers to level the playing field, I have consistently worked to fight for trade that is fair and competitive for American workers.
Q: What are the other top three issues for Pennsylvanians?
A: One of the most pressing issues for Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth is combating the fentanyl epidemic that is devastating our communities. This year, I fought to pass the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which targets and sanctions Chinese manufacturers that produce the ingredients that make up fentanyl, and Mexican cartels that traffic fentanyl into the United States. I am also leading the Stop Fentanyl At the Border Act to provide more resources to law enforcement along the southwest border to detect and stop the flow of fentanyl.
Another major concern for many Pennsylvanians is protecting Social Security and Medicare. I’m fighting to make sure that all of our nation’s seniors have the right to age with dignity and financial security. As the Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, I’ve led our work to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare and I’ll always fight back against any efforts to cut these critical lifelines for seniors. I helped pass a law that allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices and I have a bill that would update what we view as the cost of living so it reflects the reality of what seniors are dealing with.
Finally, this election will be about the critical fight to protect our rights and freedom. Voters know how much is at stake in this election – I’m fighting for voting rights, women’s rights, and workers’ rights. I’ve supported legislation to protect our democracy and the sacred right to vote, including the Freedom to Vote Act to end partisan gerrymandering and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure all Americans have equal access to the ballot. In 2022, I voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore Roe v. Wade. And I have worked tirelessly to fight for our union members because our economy has been rigged against workers for too long. I support the PRO Act to protect the right to organize a union and I’m leading the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to end corporations’ ability to deduct union busting expenses from their taxes.
Challenger Dave McCormick
Dave McCormick, the Republican running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, speaks to attendees at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
Dave McCormick, a former hedge fund manager who served in President George W. Bush’s administration, is the Republican candidate running for the seat. It’s not McCormick’s first time running for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania; he sought the GOP nomination in 2022 but lost to Mehmet Oz, who later lost to Democrat John Fetterman in the general election.
Q: You’ve stated publicly during the campaign that you would not support a national abortion ban. If elected to the Senate and yours was the deciding vote to pass such a ban, would you remain opposed? Do you think Pennsylvania’s abortion law needs to be changed? If so, how?
According to McCormick’s campaign website: “Dave is pro-life, is opposed to a national abortion ban, and supports exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother. In Pennsylvania, the current law, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, means abortion is legal through 24 weeks.”
When speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on April 3, McCormick re-emphasized his support for those three exceptions and opposing late-term abortion, but didn’t say how many weeks of pregnancy he believed the cut-off should be. In a recent campaign ad he said he supports “Pennsylvania’s limits on elective abortion in the last months of pregnancy. That seems reasonable.” According to the state Department of Health website:
“For abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy, additional restrictions are imposed by law including two physicians certifying that the abortion is necessary to prevent either the death or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant person. These restrictions generally do not apply in cases of medical emergencies.”
In June during a speech in the Philadelphia suburbs, he unveiled his “pro-family agenda,” which included backing legislation that would make contraceptives more accessible and more affordable, adding that he supports providing families with a $15,000 tax credit for fertility services like in-vitro fertilization, or IVF.
Q: You’ve criticized your opponent for the state of the economy. What specific steps would you take to improve economic conditions in Pennsylvania? What specific policies would you, if elected, put in place to address inflation and provide consumers relief from higher prices?
“As a former CEO, Dave has experience creating hundreds of Western Pennsylvania jobs and eliminating wasteful spending,” according to McCormick’s campaign website. “He knows what it’s like to be responsible for the bottom line, and in the Senate he’ll work to rein in government spending, oppose tax increases, and exercise fiscal responsibility to lessen the burden on the people of the commonwealth.”
“As a father to six daughters, Dave knows this is essential for creating opportunities for the next generation entering the workforce.”.
Over the last few weeks, McCormick embarked on a statewide bus tour his campaign dubbed the “Price of Poor Leadership Tour,” aimed at highlighting his stances on combating inflation. He visited several cities including Charleroi, where he offered to help workers facing the closure of a glass plant there. The plant has apparently since closed.
Q: You’ve criticized Sen. Casey for failing to stand up to China. Why do you think this is an issue of importance for Pennsylvania? What steps would you take to help Pennsylvania businesses be more competitive on the world stage?
During a December speech in Philadelphia, McCormick unveiled a six-point plan he said would shake up the relationship between China and the United States.
His plan would ban: illicit Chinese fentanyl ingredients and drug money from the Western Hemisphere, China from realizing the benefits of permanent normal trade relations, energy policies that make us more dependent on China, any U.S. investment or trade that supports the CCP’s national security state, strategic purchases of American land by the CCP, while also removing China from the World Health Organization.
“To put it bluntly, China poses the greatest threat to our security and our well being since the end of World War II,” he said.
McCormick’s campaign website says the plan is to “fortify American military and economic strength, thwart China’s aggressive ambitions and protect the homeland through six bans to end China’s free ride.”
Q: The Biden administration, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign and former President Donald Trump have said they want U.S. Steel to remain American-owned. Do you agree with them? Why is this important for Pennsylvania’s economy? Are you concerned that U.S. Steel may pull out of Pennsylvania? What would you do to protect those jobs, should that happen?
In a video posted to X on Dec. 19, McCormick called the proposed sale a “tragedy” and “terrible for U.S. security.”
“We need to have a domestic steel industry. Nippon Steel has operations in Iran and China and Russia, and we need American steel to help support our economy and our national security,” McCormick said in the video. “But more than that, what’s happened is Nippon Steel has been subsidized by the Japanese government that has dumped steel on the US market. We can’t reward that behavior.”
During his debate with Casey, the candidates appeared to agree that the proposed acquisition should not proceed.
Q: Former President Donald Trump has said if elected, the United States would “have the largest deportation in the history of our country.” Do you think this idea is feasible? Why is immigration at the United States southern border relevant for Pennsylvanians?
In an interview with the Capital-Star in May, following his second visit to the U.S.southern border in the last two years, McCormick said that he supports securing the border and deportation.
“I do think that we need to, we need to send a lot of the people that have come across the border illegally back, and that’ll be a difficult process to do that,” he told the Capital-Star. “There are certainly legitimate asylum seekers, but what’s happened now is the border’s completely out of control, so I do think we have a responsibility to to get people back to their countries of origin and it will be a difficult process, but one that I would support.”
“And the alternative, just to put it in perspective, the alternative is to say no, we’re gonna give those 10 million people a path to citizenship,” he added. “And the problem with that is that has broken the incentive process, the reason people are coming, and the human exploitation and all the challenges I mentioned, is A: they think they can get in and B: think that’s the path to citizenship, and in the end, they’ve broken the law and we need to repatriate them with humanity and with competency and we need to do that carefully. But we can’t have a scenario where we offer a path to citizenship for those 10 million people, which essentially, undermined our entire border security.”
During a debate with Casey on Oct. 3, McCormick reiterated his support for deportations.
Q: What foreign policy initiatives do you think should be top priorities for the U.S. if you are elected?
Since McCormick’s previous run for U.S. Senate in 2022, he has mentioned the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan as an example of what he believes to be weak foreign policy under the current administration.
Throughout his current campaign, he’s also talked extensively about supporting Israel, following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. McCormick made a trip to Israel in January and told reporters following that trip that he was “more convinced than ever of the need for America to show solidarity with Israel.”
The topic of the U.S. providing funding for Ukraine during its war with Russia has divided the Republican Party. McCormick appears to be taking a stance that is somewhere in the middle of this argument.
U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Trump’s running mate, said during a speech in May that he did not “think that it is in America’s interest to continue to fund an effectively never-ending war in Ukraine,” according to ABC News, adding that he believes the United States has “done more than our fair share.”
The Capital-Star asked McCormick on July 20 after a speech in Harrisburg if he agreed with Vance’s previous comments.
“Well, no, I’m not sure what exactly the context of that quote, but I believe that supporting Ukraine is in America’s interest, but I think it’s a very challenging situation,” McCormick said.
“I think it’s important that we give military support, not economic support to Ukraine,” McCormick said.
“And I do believe he’s also right that America has done a lot, and the Europeans, particularly Germany and France, need to do their fair share,” McCormick said. “And that’s one of the things I completely agree with, with President Trump and Senator Vance, is that our allies need to do their fair share around the world, and they haven’t been doing that.”
Q: Medicinal marijuana has been legal in Pennsylvania since 2016. Would you support legislation that would make marijuana legal at the federal level rather than leaving it up to the individual states?
The word “marijuana” is not featured on McCormick’s campaign issues page.
NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, provides letter grades for candidates for office in regards to their position on marijuana.
Casey receives a “B” grade, noting that the incumbent Senator has “advocated for the de-scheduling of marijuana,” and that “he believes that once marijuana is descheduled the federal government will be better able to research marijuana’s medical benefits.” NORML does not give a grade for McCormick on marijuana.
Q: Former President Trump has made tariffs a key policy talking point during the 2024 campaign. Which tariffs do you think would be beneficial and which tariffs would you oppose?
McCormick told reporters in Bucks County on Sept. 25 he supports using tariffs “in a smart way to make sure we have reciprocal trade.”
“The most important word to me is reciprocal. It’s got to be fair,” McCormick said. “In other words, the deal we have with other countries has to be fair. They can’t have tariffs, they can’t have non tariff barriers. We have to have a fair exchange back and forth.”
An example of tariffs McCormick said he supports are the ones Trump put in place on steel, which Biden kept in place.
“And that’s what I think President Trump’s talking about, is we need to have a fair deal, reciprocal trade, and in order to do that, we need to use tariffs selectively to make sure that our trading partners are being fair with us,” McCormick said.
“There’s certain industries that I think we just need to protect, we need to have them here at home, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals. I think we need to treat them differently,” he added. “We can’t have those industries in the hands of others. So we need to also have tariffs in place to make sure that those industries are more likely to reside here in Pennsylvania.”
A reporter asked McCormick if he disagreed with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who expressed concerns that tariffs could raise costs on the American consumer.
“Right now, the costs are being raised for consumers, by unfair trade practices, by tariffs or non trade barriers that are put in place by our adversaries or by our trading partners,” McCormick responded. “So if we get a level playing, if we get fair trade, where we’re getting a fair deal, then it’s going to be great for consumers, and that’s where I think tariffs should most be used.”
Q: Of the issues we haven’t discussed, what do you believe are the other top three issues for Pennsylvanians?
A: McCormick declined to answer our questions.
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