Republican Senate Candidate David McCormick Accused of Misleading Portrayal of Upbringing

David McCormick, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, has been accused of misleadingly portraying his upbringing as humble and farm-based, despite evidence indicating otherwise. McCormick has often spoken about growing up on a family farm in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and starting with nothing. However, a closer look at his background paints a different picture.

Interviews in McCormick's hometown and a review of public records and news coverage from his childhood suggest that he did not actually grow up on a farm. Instead, McCormick largely grew up in the president's expansive hilltop residence at what is now Bloomsburg University, where his father served as the college president. The family did own a farm several miles from the school, sometimes known as the McCormick Tree Farm, but it was also a place where his mother raised Arabian horses.

McCormick's father, James McCormick, was a well-regarded college president who later became a chancellor of higher education systems in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. In 1973, when David McCormick was 8 years old, his father was named president of Bloomsburg State College. The family moved into the official university mansion, which spans 5,500 square feet.

Why this matters: The discrepancies between McCormick's portrayal of his upbringing and the actual details of his childhood raise questions about his authenticity as a candidate. Voters often place value on a candidate's background and life experiences when making their decisions at the ballot box.

McCormick has dismissed questions about the details of his biography as "hair splitting frivolous cherry picked distortions." He claims that he lived on the Bloomsburg University campus while his father was the university's president, but also spent time at the family's nearby Christmas tree farm. McCormick defended his upbringing, stating he is "incredibly proud" of his parents' teaching careers and to have been raised in Bloomsburg, where he wrestled, played football, and was nominated to the West Point military academy.

Key Takeaways

• McCormick portrayed his upbringing as humble farm-based, but evidence suggests otherwise.
• McCormick largely grew up in the president's expansive hilltop residence at Bloomsburg University.
• McCormick's father was a well-regarded college president with a high salary.
• Discrepancies between McCormick's portrayal and actual details raise questions about his authenticity.