Despite Pennsylvania’s primary being a few weeks away, Democrat incumbent Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and his challenger Dave McCormick went up on TV with ads obviously focused on the November election.

McCormick released an ad highlighting his experience as a wrestler at the United States Military Academy, saying the “hard work” of wrestling prepared him to deal with the “selfish and soft” “career politicians” in Washington. The Republican challenger is tapping into his personal experience with the sport, which has a deep history in the Keystone State: Wrestling is so ingrained in Pennsylvania sports that Lock Haven University in Clinton County was nicknamed Mat Town.

Working across the aisle on veteran issues was the theme of Casey’s ad. In the 30-second spot, an Army veteran talks up Casey’s efforts, having “worked with Republicans and Democrats” to pass legislation to extend benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while deployed.

Crime is sure to be a top issue in the race and Casey caught flak last month from the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police after the senator’s appearance at an event with Indivisible Philadelphia. The group previously called for defunding the police. While lambasting Casey for campaigning with the anti-police group, FOP 27 President Chris Eiserman called out the Democrat’s support for soft-on-crime “Soros-funded prosecutors in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.”

In the same press conference, Eiserman praised McCormick as the “law-and-order” candidate willing to “work with the police and not against” them. Eiserman’s praise follows February’s news of McCormick gaining the endorsement of 47 Pennsylvania county sheriffs, who noted McCormick’s stance on police funding and the southern border.

The advertisements come as national focus on Senate races zeroes in on a handful of states. With Democrats’ majority in the Senate slim and a 2024 Senate map heavily favoring Republicans, media outlets are highlighting races like the Casey-McCormick battle as one of the top contests to determine control of Congress’ upper chamber.

Polling indicates a tight race, with Real Clear Politics showing McCormick cutting Casey’s lead in half in just over a month. The latest Emerson polling shows an even tighter race, with McCormick trailing Casey by 4.

With poll numbers that close, voters can expect to see many more ads through the fall.