Contenders for a crucial U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania are making stops in our area this week.

Republicans David McCormick is hosting a private gathering in Plains, Luzerne County Thursday night.

McCormick, who attended high school in Bloomsburg, stopped by the FOX56 studios before the event.

He discussed President Biden's first year in office and several key issues Pennsylvanians are facing.

"The thing I really hear when I'm driving across Pennsylvania is the challenges with the open border," McCormick said. "The contrast in the last year is really obvious and palpable because you have this huge spike with illegal immigration coming into our country and that's feeding a doubling of the amount of fentanyl coming into the country and the commonwealth of PA. We're also seeing it really contributing into a spike in crime."

McCormick is contending for the very important Senate seat currently held by Senator Pat Toomey.

GOP rival Mehmet Oz was campaigning in Old Forge Wednesday night.

Oz was greeted by a crowd of about 200 people and his speech was focused on empowerment and improving what he says Washington is doing wrong.

"How many people think Washington got it wrong with COVID, with our jobs, with inflation?" asked Dr. Oz to a cheering crowd. “I’ll stand up for the values that I have and I’ll fight for them aggressively."