McCormick was offered ministries to Brazil in 1877 and Mexico in 1879 but declined both offers. Instead, he returned to New York City and settled in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. There he became involved in a number of business efforts, as president and/or director of several mining companies and trustee of a bank. McCormick made unsuccessful runs for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1882 and 1886 before his election in 1894 to represent New York's first district for a single term.