Dave McCormick misleads voters about his anti-abortion record
The Pennsylvania GOP US Senate candidate cites articles in his new ad that contradict his own claims.
The campaign of Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick is running a new ad that misleads voters about his record on abortion. Though it suggests otherwise, as recently as 2022, McCormick opposed legal abortion, even in cases of rape and incest.
McCormick, a Connecticut-based hedge fund CEO and multimillionaire, is challenging Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in November’s election.
During his unsuccessful 2022 bid for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s other U.S. Senate seat, McCormick accused primary opponent Mehmet Oz of flip-flopping on the issue of abortion. He himself said during a primary debate, “I believe in the very rare instances there should be exceptions for life of the mother.”
But in light of polling showing more than 60% of Pennsylvanians back legal abortion in all or most circumstances, McCormick now says he backs additional exceptions. His campaign has scrubbed unequivocal anti-abortion language from its website.
In a June ad, Casey’s campaign highlighted McCormick’s previous promise to “stand tall on pro-life policies,” his 2022 praise for the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade, and his previous support for a national abortion ban without exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
On June 26, the McCormick campaign responded with a spot falsely accusing Casey of lying. “I believe any abortion laws should make exceptions for rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is in danger,” McCormick says in the ad, which shows images of news reports from the current campaign while he says, “I said it here, and here, here, here … everywhere.”
Two of the articles McCormick cites, however — a June 24, 2023, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report and NBC News post from Dec. 9. 2023 — specifically noted his previous statements that abortion should be permitted when necessary to save the life of a mother, the latter in an article under the title “GOP Senate candidates soften their abortion stances amid a post-Roe losing streak.” The Post-Gazette notes, “Democrats cited several news outlets over the last year, including the Post-Gazette, mentioning Mr. McCormick’s support only for exceptions when a mother’s life is at risk — without any clarification or correction from Mr. McCormick.”
Casey has backed legislation to protect the right to access contraception and the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore a national right to abortion, as was previously affirmed under Roe.
The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, which says that “legal abortion hurts women and denies them their right to legal protection from the death of their children and the destruction of their physical, emotional, and spiritual health,” has spent thousands of dollars this year in support of McCormick’s campaign against Casey.
