Republican Candidate Dave McCormick’s Campaign Ad Highlights Controversial Figures
In the highly anticipated Pennsylvania Senate race, Republican candidate Dave McCormick has launched a new campaign advertisement featuring testimonials from individuals who were once aligned with the Democratic party. However, some of these figures have long-standing ties to the Republican party and far-right movements.
McCormick is attempting to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey in what is predicted to be a competitive election. The 30-second ad is currently airing statewide and showcases six self-identified Democrats who express their support for McCormick. Among them, a man named Brian claims, “we are worse off than we were four years ago,” while Heather, a woman in the ad, mentions, “the border is wide open.”
One notable figure in the advertisement is Sheila Armstrong from Philadelphia. Although Armstrong previously ran for Philadelphia’s city council as a Democrat in 2019, she is now a registered Republican. Armstrong was a paid staffer for Republican Mehmet Oz’s U.S. Senate campaign in 2022.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Armstrong is affiliated with Moms for Liberty, an organization labeled as extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Center. This group has advocated for controversial policies, including book bans and actions perceived as discriminatory against LGBTQ students and educators.
Armstrong recently faced backlash after arranging an event at Max’s Steaks in North Philadelphia under the pretense of supporting her nonprofit, Cooking4Autuism. The event, however, turned out to be a campaign stop for McCormick, leading the restaurant owner to express disapproval and declare McCormick unwelcome in the future.
While Armstrong is not on McCormick’s payroll, she acts as a campaign liaison.
Another figure featured in the ad is Jamie Cohen Walker from Bucks County. In 2021, Walker gained attention in conservative circles for her vocal opposition to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, openly criticizing teachers’ unions. She became a prominent supporter of Republican Doug Mastriano in his 2022 gubernatorial bid, a candidate who endorsed Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election.
Walker also made several social media posts in 2020 questioning the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s election victory.
According to a recent poll conducted by Emerson College, Casey currently holds a narrow two-point lead over McCormick.
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