Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey announced Thursday that he has conceded the race to Republican candidate Dave McCormick, more than two weeks after Election Day.
Casey said in a statement that she called McCormick to congratulate him. McCormick's campaign also independently confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.
“I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate,” Casey said in a statement. “Once the first vote count is complete, Pennsylvanians will move forward knowing their voice has been heard, whether their vote is counted first or last. I can.”
“This election was one of the closest in the history of the Commonwealth, decided by less than a quarter of a percentage point. We thank everyone, including election officials in all 67 precincts, who worked hard to ensure every eligible vote was counted. We are grateful to 1,000 people in the county. ”
RNC files two lawsuits in Pennsylvania as Sen. Bob Casey refuses to concede race
McCormick believes Pennsylvania voters recognize the importance of the 2024 election. (Reuters/AP)
The Pennsylvania Department of State confirmed that all counties have “completed an initial count of all votes cast, except for ballots that are under challenge.”
“This is an important step that marks the end of the county's initial count process and signals that the county will begin preparing the results for official certification. We have worked tirelessly since November 5 to secure every eligible vote cast by Pennsylvania voters.'' You deserve it,” the message said.
The news comes after Mr. McCormick won the Senate seat by just 17,000 votes over Mr. Casey, according to the latest unofficial data from the State Department, which is required by Pennsylvania law to trigger an automatic recount. Mr. Casey is well within 0.5% of the margin of error. .
The recount began on Monday and was scheduled to end on November 26th.
Republicans this week took aim at the three-term incumbent, who pushed ahead with a costly recount despite assessments that Casey lacked an achievable path to victory in Pennsylvania's Senate. Mr. Casey accused Democrats of refusing to concede in the legislative race.
They also criticize the cost, noting that the recount will cost taxpayers an estimated $1 million.
In a statement Thursday, Casey praised the democratic process and the voters who voted in the Keystone State.
“When Pennsylvanians wait in long lines and take time away from work and family to vote legally, they have a right to know that their vote matters.” Casey said. “That's democracy.”
Late Thursday, Casey thanked X for his supporters.
“Throughout my tenure, I have been guided by the inscription engraved on the Treasury Building in Harrisburg: 'All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted with honor.'”
He added, “Thank you, Mr. Pennsylvania, for trusting in me over the years. It has been the honor of my life.”
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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, said the news was “shocking.”
“It has been an incredible honor to have Bob Casey as a colleague, friend and mentor,” Fetterman said in a statement. “His legacy is a better Pennsylvania. In his nearly 20 years of service to Pennsylvania, he has, in a modest way, supported working Pennsylvanians, labor unions, rural communities, seniors, people with disabilities, and all of us. Bob Casey was, is, and always will be the best senator for the people of Pennsylvania. ”
Editor's note: This report has been updated to clarify that as of Friday morning, Pennsylvania's Secretary of State had not announced the end of the recount.
