Bloomberg backs Toomey Senate re-election bid

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is endorsing Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey for a second term less than a week after speaking in support of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention.

Bloomberg’s political action committee, Independence USA, called Toomey a pragmatic leader Monday and credited him for working to address gun violence.

Toomey faces former state Environmental Protection Secretary Katie McGinty, a Democrat, in November.

McGinty communications director Sean Coit said Toomey isn’t a moderate on gun issues and has taken positions on Social Security privatization and health care that don’t show pragmatic leadership.

Bloomberg, who was elected mayor as a Republican, is also supporting two Democrats in statewide races this fall — Josh Shapiro for attorney general and Joe Torsella for state treasurer.