Republican David McCormick is expected to launch his Pennsylvania Senate bid next week on Sept. 21, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Senate Republicans spent months trying to get McCormick in the race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who has handily defeated his most recent challenges.

McCormick narrowly lost to Mehmet Oz in last year’s Senate primary. Ever since Oz lost last year in the general election, the GOP has focused on McCormick running again.

Republicans see McCormick’s entry in the race as key to expanding the Senate map due to his deep pockets and name recognition from the last run. Democrats are almost certain to hit him over his Connecticut residency; earlier this week, Sen. John Fetterman, who defeated Oz last year, mocked McCormick for his Nutmeg State connections.

Casey will still enter the race as a favorite, and Republicans will focus foremost on West Virginia, Montana and Ohio. But the GOP thinks McCormick can clear the field and mount a more serious challenge to Casey than in recent years.

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