Campaign

Trump endorses Pennsylvania Republican David McCormick

by Filip Timotija - 04/13/24 10:45 PM ET

AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Dave McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania during a campaign event in Coplay, Pa., Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former President Trump officially announced his endorsement of Pennsylvania Republican Dave McCormick, throwing his support behind the Senate candidate who did not get the former president’s blessings last time he ran for a seat in the upper chamber.

Trump unveiled the endorsement during his rally in Schnecksville, Pa., on Saturday.

“I am officially giving my endorsement to David McCormick tonight,” the former president said at the rally. “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.”

The former president told his supporters to vote for McCormick, a former hedge fund executive, because incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) “doesn’t do a damn thing.”

“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,” Trump said as his supporters booed in reaction to Casey being brought up. “I tell you, he doesn’t do a thing. So go out and vote for him.”

McCormick ran for the Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2022. He lost the primary to television personality Mehmet Oz who secured a Trump endorsement after both men contended to get one. Oz eventually lost in the general election to now-Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).

McCormick is running unopposed in the April 23 GOP primary and will face off against Casey in November.

The former CEO of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates thanked Trump for the endorsement.

“Thank you, President Trump,” he posted Saturday on X in reaction to the announcement. “Together we will deliver a big win for Pennsylvania and America in November.”

It appears the two have improved their ties when compared to 2022.

Trump, during a May 2022 rally where he stumped for Oz, said that McCormick was “not MAGA.”

“I don’t know David well, and he may be a nice guy, but he’s not MAGA,” Trump said. “He’s not MAGA. He’s more Toomey than he is MAGA.”

McCormick endorsed Trump in early March after the former president already solidified his spot as the clear-cut Republican presidential nominee.