Trump endorses McCormick in Pa.’s pivotal U.S. Senate race

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed Republican former hedge fund CEO David McCormick in his bid to oust threeterm Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey.

The endorsement in Pennsylvania’s pivotal U.S. Senate race marks a reversal by Mr. Trump, who two years ago supported Dr. Mehmet Oz over Mr. McCormick in a tight Senate GOP primary. At the time, Mr. Trump described Mr. McCormick as a “Wall Street Republican” out of touch with his supporters. Dr. Oz won the primary by less than 1,000 votes before losing the general election to Democrat John Fetterman.

But at a rally in Lehigh County on Saturday, the former president urged his supporters to cast a ballot for Mr. McCormick, a veteran and former George W. Bush administration official.

“I’m officially giving my endorsement to David McCormick tonight,” Mr. Trump said. “He’s a good man. He wants to run a good ship. He’s a smart guy who was a very successful guy. He’s given up a lot to do this. And I’ll tell you what, he’s the nominee of the Republican Party. David McCormick, go out and vote for him because Casey doesn’t do a damn thing.”

The announcement came about a month after Mr. McCormick endorsed Mr. Trump in his rematch against President Joe Biden.

Strategists of both major parties have said Mr. McCormick faces a balancing act of embracing Mr. Trump’s base while not alienating Pennsylvania’s independents and moderates. Mr. McCormick has supported many of Mr. Trump’s initiatives, including on immigration and economic policy, but said he refused to accept Mr. Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, which is often a litmus test for Mr. Trump’s backing.

“Thank you, President Trump!” Mr. McCormick posted on X after the endorsement. “Together we will deliver a big win for Pennsylvania and America in November.”

When Mr. McCormick endorsed the former president in March, the Casey campaign said it was “clear that if he wins this race, he’ll work with Trump on his extreme MAGA agenda.”

“Pennsylvania is the linchpin for holding the Senate and the White House this November,” Mr. Casey’s campaign said. “McCormick already has the full backing of the GOP and MAGA billionaires, and now, we know they’ll line up behind Trump here too. They’re putting everything they’ve got into defeating us.”

Mr. McCormick lent his U.S. Senate campaign another $1 million during the first fundraising quarter of the year, while Mr. Casey entered the spring with almost twice as much to spend at nearly $11.9 million in cash-on-hand.

Both candidates raised more than $5 million from Jan. 1 to April 3, according to federal campaign finance records released Thursday.