Politics in Pennsylvania is never just a "little" thing. It’s a full-contact sport. If you’re asking who is dave mccormick running against, you're likely trying to make sense of the seismic shift that just happened in the Keystone State. As of early 2026, Dave McCormick isn't actually "running" against anyone in an active election cycle—because he already won.
He unseated Bob Casey Jr. in a 2024 race that felt like it lasted a lifetime. It was expensive. It was bitter. And honestly, it changed the math of the U.S. Senate. McCormick is now the junior Senator from Pennsylvania, having been sworn in on January 3, 2025. But to understand the current political landscape, you have to look at the man he beat and the people who tried to play spoiler along the way.
The Titan He Toppled: Bob Casey Jr.
For nearly two decades, the name "Casey" was basically synonymous with Pennsylvania politics. Bob Casey Jr. wasn't just some incumbent; he was a three-term staple. He was the son of a beloved former governor. Before the 2024 election, Casey had won six statewide elections in a row. He was the "safe" bet.
McCormick’s campaign strategy was basically a relentless hammer. He painted Casey as a "career politician" who had lost his way. He tied him to the Biden-Harris administration at every single turn. Inflation, border security, energy costs—if it was a problem in a voter’s life, McCormick said it was Casey’s fault for "rubber-stamping" D.C. policies.
The results were razor-thin. We’re talking about a margin of roughly 0.22%.
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McCormick pulled in 3,399,295 votes to Casey's 3,384,180. In a state with millions of voters, a 15,000-vote gap is basically a rounding error, but it was enough to flip the seat. Casey didn’t go quietly, either. He waited until late November 2024 to concede, only after a statewide recount confirmed he didn't have the numbers to close the gap.
The "Other" Guys: Third-Party Spoilers
When you look at who is dave mccormick running against, you can't ignore the third-party candidates. In a race decided by 15,000 votes, these people actually mattered. A lot.
- John Thomas (Libertarian): He pulled about 1.3% of the vote. That’s nearly 90,000 people.
- Leila Hazou (Green Party): She grabbed roughly 66,000 votes.
- Marty Selker (Constitution Party): He snagged about 23,000 votes.
Think about that. If even a fraction of those Libertarian or Constitution Party voters had swung one way or the other, the headline today would be totally different. McCormick’s victory was a perfect storm of high GOP turnout and a slight bleeding of support from the Democratic base toward these alternative options.
Why the "Carpetbagger" Label Didn't Stick
One of the loudest arguments against McCormick during the race was that he wasn't "really" from Pennsylvania. Democrats, including Casey, hammered him for living in Connecticut’s "Gold Coast" for years while running a massive hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. They called him a rich outsider trying to buy a seat.
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McCormick leaned into his roots. He talked about being a "seventh-generation Pennsylvanian." He talked about wrestling in Bloomsburg. He talked about West Point.
He basically outspent the criticism. McCormick’s campaign was one of the most expensive in the country’s history. He had deep pockets from his finance days and heavy-duty backing from GOP PACs. In the end, voters in places like Cambria County and the Erie suburbs cared more about the price of eggs than where McCormick spent his weekends in 2022.
What's McCormick Doing Now?
It’s 2026. McCormick is no longer a candidate; he’s a legislator. If you look at his recent moves, he’s trying to position himself as a serious "national security and finance" guy. Just this month, in January 2026, he’s been introducing bills alongside Democrats like Jeanne Shaheen. He’s trying to look bipartisan—or at least "effective"—which is a smart move in a state as purple as Pennsylvania.
He’s currently sitting on some heavy-hitter committees:
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- Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Foreign Relations
- Energy and Natural Resources
He’s also the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy. That’s a massive deal for Pennsylvania because of the fracking and natural gas industry. He’s making sure he has a seat at the table where the money and the power are.
Looking Ahead: Who is McCormick Running Against Next?
Since he was elected to a six-year term in 2024, McCormick isn't up for re-election until 2030.
However, the political machinery in Pennsylvania never stops. The next big target for the state is the 2026 midterms, where other seats are up for grabs. While McCormick isn't on the ballot this year, his "win" is the blueprint the GOP is using to try and take more ground.
If you're keeping tabs on his future opponents, you’re looking way down the road. But the names often floated for future statewide runs include people like Josh Shapiro (though he's likely eyeing the White House) or rising stars in the state legislature.
Actionable Insights for Pennsylvania Voters
If you want to stay informed on how McCormick is performing compared to the man he replaced, here is how you can track the impact:
- Monitor the Senate "Roll Call": Watch how McCormick votes on energy exports. Since he chairs the Subcommittee on Energy, his stance on LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) will directly affect PA jobs.
- Watch the Bipartisan Index: See if he actually works with John Fetterman. Pennsylvania has two very different senators right now. If they can’t agree on basic infrastructure for the state, it’s the residents who lose out.
- Follow the Money: McCormick’s 2024 win was fueled by massive donations. Keep an eye on his 2025-2026 filings to see which industries are still backing him now that he has a vote on the Banking Committee.
The race is over, but the scrutiny is just beginning. McCormick proved that a Republican could win a statewide race in a presidential year in Pennsylvania, something that seemed nearly impossible a few years ago. Whether he keeps that seat in 2030 depends entirely on whether he delivers on the "leadership" he promised back on the campaign trail.