Pennsylvania’s Senate race is heading to a recount, with the narrow margin between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey triggering it automatically under state law.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced Wednesday that the unofficial results showing a narrow race have led to a recount. Schmidt noted in his announcement that counties must begin the recount no later than Nov. 20, and they must complete the process by noon on Nov. 26. The results will not be published until Nov. 27.
Just over 29,000 votes, or 0.4 percent of the total votes cast, currently separate the two candidates, with McCormick narrowly leading. Any margin under 0.5 percentage points triggers a recount in Pennsylvania. NBC News has not yet projected a winner in the race.
McCormick spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory called the Republican’s lead “insurmountable” in a statement.
“A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money, but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative,” Gregory said, going on to reference McCormick’s narrow primary loss in 2022. “Senator-elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion.”
Casey has not conceded the race. “When the vote gets to a certain level, the state makes a determination and they made that determination. Lot more votes to count,” he said Wednesday in the Capitol.
Casey said in a Tuesday statement that “the American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania and that process will play out.”
Former President Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania, helping him lock up enough electoral votes for the presidency. But the current vote count shows a sizable drop-off between Trump and McCormick, with Trump winning more than 100,000 additional votes than McCormick. Casey is lagging behind Vice President Kamala Harris by around 40,000 votes.
McCormick declared victory a few days after the election, telling supporters in Pittsburgh last Friday that there was no path for Casey to surpass him.
“I wish him the best, and his family the best, and thank them for their service,” McCormick said. “But we’ve got to move on to changing the direction of the country.”
Asked about the possibility of a recount, McCormick told reporters on Friday, “I don’t know whether there will be a recount or not, but the people have spoken, there’s a clear victory and I’ll respectfully move forward on that basis.”
Senate Republicans have already secured the Senate majority, picking up Senate seats in West Virginia, Ohio, and Montana.
NBC News projected that Democratic Senate candidates in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin won their Senate races even as Trump carried the states.
Julie Tsirkin contributed.
