PHILADELPHIA — Sirens are blaring at Sen. Bob Casey's campaign in Pennsylvania. Deep Blue Philadelphia's fire union is abandoning the incumbent Democrat and supporting Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick instead.
The union, International Association of Firefighters Local 22, is based in the city's industrial Northern Liberties neighborhood and represents more than 4,500 firefighters, paramedics and paramedics.
Union leaders announced their agreement Wednesday at McCormick's press conference, explaining their decision not to support Casey, who ran for the Senate the past three times.
“Our decision to support was not made lightly,” said Local 22 President Mike Bresnan, noting that a large factor in their decision was Casey's absence from the community.
“This election was the first time we met during Sen. Casey's tenure,” Bresnan said.
McCormick, who was joined in the press box by potential colleague Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), thanked the union and vowed to appear before members if elected.
“I'm going to fight to make sure the people who are putting their lives at risk, whether it's police officers, firefighters or first responders, get the resources they deserve,” he said.
“And I feel a kinship with the people who are willing to wear that uniform and risk their lives, even if they wear a different uniform,” McCormick added, referring to his Army service during the Gulf War.
Mr. McCormick accused Mr. Casey of supporting sanctuary cities and other open border policies that strain public resources and create hardships for first responders.
Philadelphia, became a sanctuary city In 2016, 153,000 illegal immigrants It is estimated that he lives in Pennsylvania.
“What did Bob Casey do? He basically supported policies that made their jobs even tougher,” McCormick said.
“He supports liberal prosecutors who: [Philadelphia County District Attorney] Larry Krasner, who refuses to support hard borders and tough border policies, voted against an $800 million fund for opioid and drug detection in the Senate. ”
Local 22 Director Jack Ertmann works every day to combat the fentanyl crisis in Northeast Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. He said Casey's absence was contributing to the spread of the virus, calling it one of the biggest challenges of his career.
“Now that the crisis in Kensington has become nationally known, not even the current senator has been here and offered to help,” Ertmann said. “We're tired of political promises that aren't kept. That's why we stand with those who keep their promises.”
The Cook Political Report moved the Pennsylvania Senate race into close race territory this week.
This year is expected to be one of the most expensive Senate races in the country. $274 million As of Thursday, he was in the state. More than $200 million of that money came from sources other than the candidates themselves, according to OpenSecrets.
