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The union representing the firefighters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city, has endorsed David McCormick, the Republican businessman running for the U.S. Senate against two-term Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Jr.

The president, Mike Bresnan, of the IAFF Local 22 union, which represents more than 4,500 firefighters and first responders in Philadelphia, said on Thursday that until this election cycle, they had never met with Sen. Casey over his two six-year terms in office, according to Fox News. 

“Dave McCormick possesses all the qualities that will catapult us forward,” Bresnan said at a press conference announcing the endorsement.

“We are confident that Dave McCormick will show up when we need him. He is unequivocally the right choice for senator at this pivotal moment in our country’s history.”

“We’re here today to talk about exactly why these folks are voting for change, as opposed to the status quo,” candidate McCormick said. “We have urban decay, skyrocketing murder rates. They’re making sections of this incredible city a terrifying place to raise children.” 

The IAFF local in Philadelphia had endorsed Casey in his first re-election bid in 2018.

McCormick pointed to “George Soros-funded prosecutors,” citing Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, as one who has “undermined the rule of law.” 

“[Casey] has essentially supported policies that have made the jobs of these [firefighters and first responders] a lot tougher. He supports liberal prosecutors like Larry Krasner. He refuses to stand up for a tough order and tough border policies and voted against a total of $800 million in funds for opioid and narcotic detection in the Senate.”

McCormick added that Casey also voted against Kate’s Law, a bill that would mandate minimum imprisonment for illegal immigrant felons following the murder of 32-year-old Kate Steinle by a Mexican national in 2015 on a San Francisco pier.

A Casey campaign spokesperson said the senator enjoys support from law enforcement and firefighter groups, according to Fox News. 

“Senator Casey has a long and clear record of working alongside law enforcement and first responders and delivering hundreds of millions of dollars to support them – that’s why he has the backing of current and retired law enforcement and the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association,” said Kate Smart.