The close election between Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Republican Dave McCormick is heading for a recount automatically triggered by state law, election officials said on Wednesday.
Fox News reported that the fewer than 27,000-vote margin (0.39 percentage points) requires the state to conduct a recount. State law requires a recount if “vote totals [are] within the one-half of 1 percent.” Multiple outlets, including the Associated Press and Fox News, called the race for McCormick, giving Republicans 53 seats in the Senate, but Casey has refused to concede.
The recount must begin no later than November 20 and finish by noon on November 26, with results published on November 27. Election officials estimated the recount would cost Pennsylvania residents more than $1 million. Since 2004, there have been four automatic recounts in Pennsylvania — all of which affirmed the initial results, according to Fox News.
McCormick’s team remains confident that he will win the race, with spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory saying that Casey’s deficit is too much to overcome. With 99% of the ballots counted, McCormick holds 3,383,676 votes to Casey’s 3,357,191 votes.
“Senator-elect McCormick’s lead is insurmountable, which the AP made clear in calling the race,” Gregory said in a statement. “A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative. Senator-elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) initially did not invite McCormick to the Senate orientation. However, after pressure from his colleagues, the Democratic leader reached out to McCormick, and the Republican attended the orientation earlier this week.
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SPOTTED at Senate orientation pic.twitter.com/4kTUn9Dv0b
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) November 12, 2024
Casey, who has served three terms in the Senate, doubled down on waiting for all the ballots to be counted before conceding, saying in a video posted on Tuesday, “My priority has always been standing up for the people of Pennsylvania. Across our commonwealth, close to 7 million people cast their votes in a free and fair election. Our county election officials will finish counting those votes, just like they do in every election.”
