Republican and former hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick is expected to announce his bid for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania next week in Pittsburgh, two people familiar with the plans told ABC News.
Reuters and The Associated Press were first to report the announcement plans. A McCormick spokeswoman declined to comment.
The businessman and former US Undersecretary of the Treasury, who ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate last year, losing in the Republican primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz, has a lot of money and was heavily recruited move to steer this cycle by state Republican leaders, nearly 100 of whom signed a letter last week urging him to enter the race.
McCormick will compete for the seat of Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who is running for re-election for three terms.
The winner could determine the balance of power in the US Senate, currently held by Democrats 51-49.
Nearly 100 Republicans in Pennsylvania signed a letter this month encouraging McCormick to return to the race.
He narrowly lost the 2022 Republican Senate primary to the famous Dr. Oz, who was then defeated by incumbent Democrat John Fetterman.
“As a combat veteran, job creator, public servant, and true Pennsylvanian, we can think of no one better prepared to serve the Commonwealth in the United States Senate, and we urge you to run in 2024,” states the letter, which was organized by Allegheny County Republican Party Chairman Sam DeMarco and signed by 98 people, including Lawrence Tabas, the state party chairman.
DeMarco told ABC News that time was running out for McCormick to decide whether to run.
“I think he’s going to have to make a decision very, very soon. I mean, you would think [by] at the end of this month,” he said.
After the 2022 race, McCormick continued to maintain an on-the-ground presence, appearing at local event parties in the area, speaking on conservative podcasts and recently touring to launch his new book, “Superpower in Peril: A battle plan to “renew America”
McCormick has also come out to defend state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is running for re-election, and Rep. Mike Kelly.
McCormick could face scrutiny over an issue that partially defined Oz’s campaign last year: where exactly he lives.
While Oz moved to Pennsylvania, he had lived for more than three decades in New Jersey, fueling Fetterman’s attacks that he was out of touch with voters.
Recently, McCormick told Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on a podcast, “I live in Pennsylvania.” He owns a home in Pittsburgh, according to public records, and was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, just outside the city.
But the Associated Press reported last month that according to “real estate listings and recent interview footage,” McCormick was still living in Connecticut.
State Republican leaders have responded to the residency reports, with DeMarco calling them “b——” and Northampton County Republican Party Chairman Glenn Geissinger telling ABC News: “I know Dave McCormick He’s from Pennsylvania and I’m looking forward to it.” denouncing these rumors that he lives in Connecticut.”
McCormick’s spokeswoman said in a statement that “Dave has called Pennsylvania home for 30 years and has served our country outside of Pennsylvania for 13 more. It’s where he sent letters while serving in Iraq and where three of their daughters were born.”
The spokeswoman acknowledged, however, that McCormick “maintains a residence in Connecticut while his daughters finish high school, [but] “Dave’s home is in Pittsburgh and for the past 10 years he has owned a working farm in his hometown of Bloomsburg, which has been in the family for decades.”
