Pennsylvania’s Casey utilizing power of incumbency in his run against McCormick
Salena Zito
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PITTSBURGH — Sen. Bob Casey‘s visit to Nicky’s Grant Street, the iconic diner in the shadow of the Pittsburgh city-county building where Democrats who have run the city for nearly 100 years have cut deals over dippy eggs, had nothing to do with sudden hunger pains. It had everything to do with what incumbents do when they are running for reelection: endorse a local Democrat, tout economic development projects they are bringing to the area, and hand out money.
That’s exactly what Casey did last Friday. He gave robust support for Sara Innamorato, the former Democratic Socialists of America member running for Allegheny County chief executive, the most powerful position in the region, urging local Democrats to rally around her candidacy. Then he went off to announce federal initiatives to support economic revitalization and workforce development in the energy communities, followed by highlighting the $750,000 in philanthropic support he said he advocated for the United Mine Workers career center in Greene County.
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G. Terry Madonna, political science professor at Millersville University, said Casey is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing to shore up fellow Democrats’ support.
“That is his sweet spot,” Madonna said. “Just keep bringing the money home and then remind voters you’re doing that. Casey’s strength going into what looks to be a vigorous fight for his seat is put his head down and continue doing just that.”
A flurry of emails from the three-term incumbent’s office shows announcements of new economic and workforce development he was part of bringing to a town or a county, bipartisan legislation he supported for Clean Energy Manufacturers, his support for the expansion of Social Security, and as the endorsements he has received from the United Mine Workers and the Steelworkers Union.
Madonna said that kind of reminder to voters is what incumbents often use successfully to hold their seats. Most of the time, they are successful. The two rare modern examples of Pennsylvania U.S. senators not holding their seats were Democrat Arlen Specter in 2010 and Republican Rick Santorum in 2006, when he lost his seat to Casey.
Fundraising is another benefit of incumbency. Casey has raised $14.5 million in total so far for his 2024 reelection campaign, bringing in over $3.2 million alone from July 1
through Sept. 30,
according to federal filings.
Madonna said Casey is considered a favorite going into the race “because of the name, his demeanor, and people have just known him for so long.”
The Cook Political Report confirms the son of the late Bob Casey, a popular Pennsylvania governor from 1987 to 1995, is a slight favorite for reelection, rating the race between him and Republican businessman and Army veteran David McCormick as “Leans Democrat,” and a recent Quinnipiac University poll of registered Pennsylvania voters released earlier this month put him ahead of McCormick 50% to 44%.