Republican Dave McCormick will be the next U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, even though the networks have refused to call a race and incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) has refused to concede. It will be.
McCormick declared victory Thursday afternoon.
“Mr. McCormick gained 30,679 votes, and that number is likely to increase as ruby-red Cambria County remains prominent,” Elizabeth Gregory, communications director for the McCormick campaign, said in a statement. “As the votes continue to be counted, no matter how you look at it, Dave McCormick will be the next senator from Pennsylvania.”
With over 95% of the votes cast, Mr. McCormick received 3,337,473 votes and Mr. Casey received 3,306,240 votes, a difference of 31,233 votes.
Only three U.S. Senate races in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada are awaiting network confirmation. In Nevada, Republican Sam Brown and incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) remain in a close race, and the race is still too close to call. And in Arizona, Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) are waiting for a call, but Gallego is in the lead.
But despite the career politician's stubbornness, there is no path for Mr. Casey to win a fourth term in Pennsylvania.
“Counting in Pennsylvania is still continuing,” a spokeswoman for Casey said in a statement. “Yesterday, the lead narrowed by 50,000 votes, and this race is now within half a percentage point, the threshold for an automatic recount in Pennsylvania.
“As tens of thousands of additional votes are counted, we remain committed to ensuring that every Pennsylvanian's vote is counted, and we are confident that Sen. Casey will be re-elected at the end of the process.”
Donald Trump's historic victory in a federal state that both candidates fought hard in the final days and weeks of the campaign sealed the fate of Kamala Harris. Mr. McCormick, a retired Army captain and former businessman, has managed to forge close ties with Mr. Trump, the undisputed leader of the party.
But surprisingly, the low-profile Casey also clung to Trump in the final weeks of the campaign, a sign that Casey saw Harris' weaknesses in the Keystone State. .
In October, after Mr. McCormick caught Mr. Casey in the polls, the incumbent stopped using the party's candidate's name almost entirely on his stump and in ads, without mentioning Ms. Harris.
Notably, Mr. Casey's campaign released ads linking Mr. Casey to Mr. Trump, including one that showed Mr. Trump signing the bill in the Oval Office, with a narrator saying, Mr. Casey touted his support for Mr. Trump on the historic trade deal ending NAFTA.
In the end, Casey's efforts to encourage Trump supporters to split the ticket failed.
Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority. But the long aftereffects of President Trump's Election Day landslide ensured that Republicans will gain a larger majority than Democrats this year.
Republicans will gain at least 53 seats.
By raising the score, Republicans will ensure that Trump has at least two years of the congressional support he needs to advance his legislative agenda and confirm a nominee who will carry out America First's mission. And importantly, Republican support could overcome opposition from moderate Republicans Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
First, Senate Republicans must choose a new leader to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). That election is scheduled for November 13 and will include newly elected senators.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News' Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
