by Christen Smith
U.S. Sen Bob Casey Jr. says he hasn’t lost his reelection bid just yet.
In a statement posted to social media, the two-term senator said 100,000 provisional and overseas ballots remain uncounted – a detail supported by the Department of State on Thursday.
Given Republican challenger Dave McCormick’s 31,000-vote lead, The Associated Press’ decision to call the race in his favor is premature, according to Casey.
“Pennsylvania is where our democratic process was born,” he said on X. “We must allow that process to play out and ensure that every vote that is eligible to be counted will be counted. That is what Pennsylvania deserves.
The Associated Press, long considered the standard bearer of calling election results, defended its methodology for calling the race. Like President-elect Donald Trump, said AP reporter Mike Catalini, McCormick cut into Casey’s margins in purple counties and Democratic bastions across the state. Of the estimated 91,000 ballots uncounted, Catalini said Casey could not make enough ground to overtake McCormick.
As of Friday morning, state returns show the candidates just 0.45 percentage points apart. Secretary of State Al Schmidt must order a recount for any races that come in at or below the 0.5 threshold by Thursday of next week, unless the defeated candidate opts out. That recount must be completed by noon on Nov. 19.
The flip pads the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to 53-45, with races in Arizona and Nevada still to be called, according to The AP.
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Christen is Pennsylvania editor for The Center Square newswire service and co-host of Pennsylvania in Focus, a weekly podcast on America’s Talking Network. Recognized by Editor and Publisher Magazine as one of the media industry’s “Top 25 Under 35” in 2024.
Photo “Dave McCormick” by Dave McCormick. Photo “Bob Casey” by Bob Casey.
