Casey and McCormick court votes from veterans in Pennsylvania Senate race

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) greets veterans at the American Legion Post 21- William P. Roche in Philadelphia July 19, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

The candidates for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat are touting their records on issues of importance to military veterans, as they try to win votes from the nearly 800,000 veterans who call the Keystone State home.

With just over 100 days to go until the 2024 election, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Republican challenger Dave McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO and military veteran, have both addressed American Legion events in the commonwealth over the past week. Pennsylvania has the fourth-largest veterans’ population in the nation. 

Casey touted his work passing the PACT Act, which provides health care to veterans who faced toxic exposure to burn pits. President Joe Biden signed it into law in 2022. 

Speaking Friday at American Legion Post 21- William P. Roche in Philadelphia, Casey blasted efforts from some Republicans who opposed the PACT Act, adding he was “angry” at those who “kick the hell out of government every day” and don’t support efforts that benefit veterans

“You can’t wave the flag as a politician and pat everybody on the back and say you support veterans if you don’t support the damn funding,” Casey said. “So I’m tired of these people, and you know what? In this election, we’re going to hold them accountable for their positions on a range of issues, including veterans issues.” 

McCormick, who is a U.S. Army veteran, spoke Saturday at the Pennsylvania American Legion’s 105th Convention in Harrisburg and said that leadership was needed right now to stand behind the military.

“What’s happened over the last three and a half years, is our military has lost its way,” McCormick said. “It’s lost its focus on war fighting, so we need leadership that renews the war fighting spirit and focuses on the kinds of capabilities we need to deter our adversaries.” 

McCormick also said that new leadership is needed in Washington D.C. to ensure that recruiting goals are met for the military, that the G.I. bill needs to evolve, and address the issue of the mental health crisis of veterans.

Casey also touted the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which raised the age for people with disabilities to qualify for special tax-advantaged savings accounts, as an example of legislation he’s backed that has an impact on veterans. Casey also spoke about how the opioid crisis has affected veterans, mentioning his proposed legislation that would lower the costs of treatment for opioid use disorder. He also criticized Republicans who opposed a bipartisan border bill that he believes would help prevent fentanyl coming into the United States from the southern border.

And he highlighted legislation that increases the recognition of Purple Heart recipients, service members who were injured or killed in the line of duty.

“We’re going to continue to fight these battles and to make sure that we don’t just talk a good game, but that we vote the right way,” Casey said. 

During his appearance, McCormick spoke about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler. McCormick spoke at the rally not long before Trump took the stage. 

He told the room full of veterans after he heard the first shot saying “all of you would have recognized those shots,” adding that “many of you know what it’s like to have bullets flying,” and called it a tragic day, but said Trump’s response of putting his fist in the air was a sign of reassurance and strength.

Much of McCormick’s address touched on themes he refers to in his campaign stump speech about his belief that America is currently in “deep trouble,” and that leadership is needed to help move the country in the right direction. 

“He has been a follower, not a leader,” McCormick said of Casey. “He’s voted with Joe Biden 98% of the time.”

“If you look at the open borders, or you look at the sky high inflation, if you look at crime, Bob Casey has been at the scene of the crime,” McCormick added. “On all those issues, he’s voted for all those issues.”

McCormick said he supports policies that would improve the economy, secure the border, and address the fentanyl crisis.

He also detailed his military service in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and his view that the U.S. needs to lead on the world stage to address various conflicts. 

McCormick, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost in the GOP primary by less than 1,000 votes to Mehmet Oz, pointed to the Biden administration’s withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021 as a reason he previously ran for office. 

Veterans issues on the campaign trail

Veterans issues have been front and center for both candidates on the campaign trail.

Casey’s first television ad of the cycle was a 30-second spot featuring Chad Baer, a U.S. Army veteran, thanking Casey for his work on the PACT Act. One of McCormick’s first TV ads of the general election talked about attending the Military Service Academy at West Point and how it shaped him.

In 2023, Casey’s campaign launched a veterans coalition that included endorsements from various veteran leaders in the state and military veterans U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-17th District) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-6th District).

McCormick’s campaign recently announced the endorsement of Concerned Veterans for America Action, a group that describes itself as being “committed to electing policy champions that will promote the wellbeing, prosperity, and self-sufficiency of veterans, their families, and their communities.” All of its endorsed 2024 candidates are Republicans.

Sixty-three percent of military veterans nationwide identify or lean with Republicans, while 35% identify or lean with Democrats, according to the Pew Research Center.Veterans issues have also been a focus at the top of the ticket, with both presidential campaigns having campaign arms focused on their community.