Pennsylvania primary voters have chosen the contestants in the open U.S. Senate election. Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., will face off against David McCormick, a Republican former CEO of Bridgewater Associates hedge fund, and former Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs during the George W. Bush administration. Casey was first elected to the Senate in 2006, and has since been reelected in 2012 and 2018.
Earlier this year, GLAAD released the findings of a poll gauging motivation and top issues ahead of the 2024 general election in November. The nationwide survey polled both LGBTQ adults and registered voters (including both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ). In a generic vote preference for Congress, LGBTQ likely voters prefer a Democratic candidate by +63 percentage points nationwide (77% Democrat / 14% Republican) and by +67 percentage points in the seven most competitive states with U.S. Senate races: Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (79% Democrat / 12% Republican).
Nearly half a million LGBTQ people live in Pennsylvania. Twenty-seven percent of LGBTQ people in Pennsylvania are raising children. Analysis shows LGBTQ voters played a deciding role in the 2020 election, flipping the Senate to a pro-equality majority. And estimates show that by 2040, 1 in 5 voters in the state will be LGBTQ. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) approved new regulations in June 2023, expanding the definition of “sex” to include sexual orientation and gender identity. These regulations became effective on August 16, 2023. However Pennsylvania lacks comprehensive statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations. It is the only state in the northeast without comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws on the books.
For GLAAD’s Election 2024 fact sheet on Pennsylvania, click here.
GLAAD urges the media to include LGBTQ issues in their questions to candidates, and consider them when covering the campaign. Research on the candidates’ records on abortion is also included, as abortion is an LGBTQ issue. In the general election on November 5, Arizona voters will also get to choose whether to add the right to an abortion to the state constitution.
Research on the candidates’ LGBTQ records includes:
Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D) (above left)
—Casey has supported LGBTQ equality since the start of his political career. During his 2006 and 2012 runs for Senate, Casey expressed support for same-sex civil unions and the repeal of the anti-LGBTQ Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Act.
—Once elected, in 2010, Casey voted in favor of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
—In 2013, Casey voiced support for marriage equality and the repeal of the anti-LGBTQ Defense of Marriage Act.
—Also in 2013, Casey voted yes on extending federal employment discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans.
—Casey co-sponsored the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, a bill designed to ban so-called “gay conversion therapy.” Conversion therapy is a harmful and widely discredited practice that attempts to change an LGBTQ person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
—In 2016, Casey co-sponsored the LGBTQ Equality Act.
—Casey’s has issued statements recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance and indicating clear support for transgender Pennsylvanians.
—In 2022, Casey voted yes on the Respect for Marriage Act, which guarantees spousal rights and benefits for all same-sex couples nationwide.
David McCormick (R), businessman (above right)
—McCormick campaigned with Betsy DeVos, former U.S. Secretary of Education under Donald Trump, whose tenure was marked by the reversal of protections for LGBTQ students, the rescinding of Title IX guidance on investigating campus sexual assault, and a policy to dismiss complaints about bathroom access filed by transgender students.
—McCormick campaigned with Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)-designated extremist group Moms for Liberty. The SPLC noted the group uses “their multiple social media platforms to target teachers and school officials, advocate for the abolition of the Department of Education, advance a conspiracy propaganda, and spread hateful imagery and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.”
—Opposes participation of transgender girls in girls sports.
—McCormick expressed support for policy changes that would harm transgender Americans, including the elimination of federal funding for best-practice medical care.
—His unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign messaging included promises to “push back on wokeness.” His campaign spokesperson stated that McCormick has “seen first-hand how wokeness and cancel culture in our schools, the military, and business community are turning our country into one we don’t recognize.” “Wokeness” and “woke ideology” are common dog-whistles used to signal opposition to LGBTQ equality.
—While he was CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the company offered employees “fully paid coverage for gender transitions” as part of an initiative to support underrepresented groups. The company promoted events and speakers discussing gender identity and LGBTQ issues.
—In 2013, McCormick signed an amicus brief supporting the legalization of marriage equality before the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision.
