PHILADELPHIA — Sirens are sounding for Sen. Bob Casey’s campaign in Pennsylvania, where the firefighters’ union in deep-blue Philly is ditching the incumbent Democrat and endorsing GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick instead.
The union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, is based in the city’s industrial Northern Liberties neighborhood and represents more than 4,500 firefighters, paramedics and EMTs.
Union leaders announced the nod at a press conference with McCormick Wednesday, and explained their decision not to back Casey after endorsing him in his three previous bids for Senate.
“Our endorsement decision wasn’t made lightly,” said Local 22 President Mike Bresnan, who noted a big factor in their decision was Casey’s absence from their communities.
“This election was the first time we ever met Senator Casey in all his years in office,” Bresnan said.
McCormick — who was joined at the presser by potential future colleague Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) — thanked the union and vowed to always show up for its members if elected.
“Whether it’s our police officers or our firefighters or our first responders, I will fight to ensure that those who put their lives on the line get the resources they deserve,” he said.
“And I feel a kinship — even though I wore a different uniform — to those who are willing to put on the uniform and put their lives at risk,” McCormick added, referring to his Army service during the Gulf War.
McCormick charged Casey with supporting sanctuary cities and other open border policies that strain public resources and create difficulties for first responders.
Philadelphia, which became a sanctuary city in 2016, has hosted a large portion of the 153,000 illegal immigrants estimated to be living in Pennsylvania.
“What’s Bob Casey done? He’s essentially supported policies that have made the jobs of these guys a lot tougher,” McCormick said.
“He supports liberal prosecutors like [Philadelphia County District Attorney] Larry Krasner, he refuses to stand up for a tough border and tough border policies and voted against $800 million in funds for opioid and narcotic detection in the Senate.”
Local 22 Secretary Jack Eltman works daily to combat the fentanyl crisis in Kensington, a northeastern Philly neighborhood. He said Casey’s absence has contributed to the epidemic, which he calls one of the biggest challenges of his career.
“With this crisis in Kensington becoming nationally known, even our current senator has not been here or offered help,” Eltman said. “I’m tired of political promises never kept, and that’s why we are supporting those who kept their promises.”
The Cook Political Report moved the Pennsylvania Senate race into toss-up territory this week.
It’s expected to be one of the country’s most expensive Senate elections this year, as about $274 million has been spent in the state as of Thursday. Of this, more than $200 million has come from sources other than the candidates themselves, according to OpenSecrets.
