Pennsylvania Republicans eye major investment CEO for Senate major

A indigenous of the Pittsburgh region, McCormick presently runs Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund with more than $140 billion in belongings. He features a glittering resume — right after graduating from West Level and Military Ranger College, McCormick served in the Gulf War, where by he won the Bronze Star, went on to gain his Ph.D. from Princeton, labored at McKinsey and served as a leading Treasury official in the George W. Bush administration.
McCormick has not built a final decision on regardless of whether to operate, according to a selection of sources. He did not answer to a request for comment.
In the aftermath of Republican Glenn Youngkin’s prosperous operate for governor in Virginia — the place he was capable to gain the votes of independents, suburban voters, and girls in a blue state — Republicans are nervous to uncover candidates who might have a identical appeal.
“I’ve identified Dave McCormick due to the fact the early 90s, and I think he would be an amazingly formidable applicant if he decides to enter the race. He’s a wonderful Pennsylvanian who has all the needed expertise and attributes to be an outstanding United States senator,” explained Dave Urban, a fellow West Position grad and near buddy of McCormick, and a lobbyist with ties to Trump.
A prominent Republican shut to the energy to recruit McCormick explained that Youngkin’s victory on Tuesday underscored the benefit of candidate recruitment heading into a yr in which Republicans are ever more optimistic about their possibilities of successful back again the Property and Senate.
“There are many at both of those the grassroots and nationwide amount who see in Dave several of the attributes that produced Glenn Youngkin a powerful candidate,” explained the person, who extra that McCormick has “an amazing network in the two Pennsylvania and nationally.”
If he decides to operate, McCormick would first have to navigate the optics of his latest residence — at the minute, he life in Connecticut with his loved ones. Still, he has near ties to Pennsylvania, and commonly visits his relatives farm in Bloomsburg, where he was a wrestler and soccer player at the neighborhood general public significant school. Right after Princeton, he returned to Pittsburgh for ten many years and was the CEO of a tech business termed Cost-free Marketplaces.
“I think he would be the standout prospect and would quickly transfer to the entrance of the pack should he decide to go in,” stated Jim Schultz, a well known Pennsylvania Republican law firm who served as standard counsel to former GOP Gov. Tom Corbett.
“This will be 1 of the top rated Senate races in the country following year, and he can marshal the essential means to acquire a race like this,” explained Schultz.
McCormick would also have to navigate a most important in which Trump, who won the state in 2016, looms massive. Parnell, an writer and Army fight veteran who also hails from western Pennsylvania, has emerged as the GOP frontrunner in the race to triumph retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey. But times soon after Trump’s endorsement, GOP opponent Jeff Bartos unveiled law enforcement reports demonstrating Parnell’s spouse experienced taken out orders of security from him in 2017 and 2018.
One more candidate with Trump ties — Carla Sands, a former ambassador to Denmark below Trump — has loaned $3.1 million to her campaign.
This 7 days, Parnell’s estranged spouse Laurie Snell testified in a youngster custody listening to that Parnell experienced assaulted her and their little ones, an allegation that raised questions about his viability as a prospect.
Parnell, who has denied the allegations of abuse, is scheduled to provide testimony in court docket next week.
“President Trump respects Dave and has spoken hugely of his service and accomplishment,” explained a person close to Trump. “There are a number of previous Trump marketing campaign and White Home officers who would be hugely psyched by his likely candidacy and would certainly motivate him to think about this extra severely.”
Christine Toretti, a Republican National Committeeperson from Pennsylvania, stated she admired McCormick’s willingness to take into consideration jogging and serving and mentioned his name arrived up several instances at a local Pittsburgh Republican celebration on Wednesday night.
“I feel he would be the very best shot we have for the Republican Social gathering,” she said. “I find his candidacy quite intriguing.”
McCormick is married to Dina Powell McCormick, a Goldman Sachs executive who previously served as a deputy nationwide protection adviser to Trump. His family also has a historical past of general public provider in the condition: His father, James McCormick, served as the president of Bloomsburg College and chancellor for the Pennsylvania Point out System of Better Training.
If he decides to operate, McCormick has advised folks he would commit hundreds of thousands of his possess cash into the race, in accordance to two Pennsylvania GOP sources.
“David McCormick will promptly emerge as the frontrunner,” explained Greg Manz, a former spokesperson for the state Republican Celebration who labored on both of Trump’s presidential strategies. “His public coverage bona fides are next to none and he will showcase a preeminent fundraising prowess.”