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Casey, a Pennsylvania Democratic senator, strongly opposes the overturning of Roe v. Wade, arguing it strips constitutional rights from women, while his Republican opponent, Dave McCormick, views the decision as a victory for the protection of life. Casey has consistently received high ratings from pro-choice organizations and warns that a Republican-controlled government could lead to nationwide bans on contraception and abortion medication. McCormick, although initially staunchly pro-life, now opposes a national abortion ban and supports exceptions for rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother, yet faces criticism for being out of step with the majority of Pennsylvanians.
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey called the ruling dangerous in a statement.
“Today’s decision upends almost a half-century of legal precedent and rips away a constitutional right that generations of women have known their entire lives,” he said. “Our daughters and granddaughters should not grow up with fewer rights than their mothers.”
Dave McCormick, the Republican former hedge fund CEO running against Casey for the Senate in 2024, once celebrated the idea of Roe being overturned.
“If this leaked memo becomes the court’s majority opinion, it would be a huge victory for the protection of innocent life and rightfully puts the issue of life back into the hands of the states,” McCormick said in May 2022.
The two candidates differ greatly on abortion rights.
In 2016 and 2017, Casey earned a 100% from NARAL Pro-Choice America. He also received a 100% score from Planned Parenthood for his 2023-2024 voting record.
Casey once called himself a “pro-life Democrat,” but distanced himself from the term after Roe was overturned.
“It’s what kind of country you’re going to be: Are we going to be a country that bans abortion?” Casey said in 2023, according to the Washington Examiner. “I think Dobbs really changed the conversation about the way forward.”
In June, Casey spoke at an event by Red Wine & Blue, warning that a Republican win could lead to nationwide bans on birth control and abortion medication. Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
“You could have blue-state impact whether it’s a blue-state ban that affects contraception or whether it’s a blue-state ban when it comes to abortion because of mifepristone,” Casey said, according to the Associated Press.
McCormick’s stance on abortion has evolved. During an April 2022 debate, he said, “I believe in the very rare instances there should be exceptions for the life of the mother.”
A now-deleted issues page from McCormick’s 2022 campaign website stated: “Dave is staunchly pro-life and believes that life begins at conception.”
Today, McCormick’s campaign website claims he is “opposed to a national abortion ban” and supports exceptions for rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother.
“Despite his efforts to hide his abortion record, David McCormick is out of step with the majority of Pennsylvanians,” Breana Ross, Pennsylvania state director for Planned Parenthood Votes, said in an April 24 statement. “McCormick is determined to move this country in the opposite direction.”
A CBS News poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 3-6 found Casey leading McCormick 48% to 41%.
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