Democrat Bob Casey concedes Pennsylvania Senate race to Dave McCormick

Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey connected Thursday announced helium has conceded the contention to Republican campaigner Dave McCormick much than 2 weeks aft Election Day. 

Casey said successful a connection that helium called McCormick to congratulate him. McCormick's run besides independently confirmed the quality to Fox News Digital. 

"I conscionable called Dave McCormick to congratulate him connected his predetermination to correspond Pennsylvania successful the United States Senate," Casey said successful the statement. "As the archetypal number of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians tin determination guardant with the cognition that their voices were heard, whether their ballot was the archetypal to beryllium counted oregon the last."

"This contention was 1 of the closest successful our Commonwealth’s history, decided by little than a 4th of a point. I americium grateful to the thousands of radical who worked to marque definite each eligible ballot formed could beryllium counted, including predetermination officials successful each 67 counties."

RNC FILES TWO LAWSUITS IN PENNSYLVANIA AMID SEN BOB CASEY REFUSING TO CONCEDE RACE

McCormick believes Pennsylvania voters are realizing the value of the 2024 election. (Reuters/ Associated Press)

The Pennsylvania State Department confirmed that each counties "have completed their archetypal number of each votes cast, with the objection of ballots nether challenge." 

"This is simply a large measurement that marks the extremity of counties’ archetypal counting processes and signals that counties statesman preparing their results for authoritative certification. Thousands of predetermination professionals person been moving tirelessly since Nov. 5 to guarantee each eligible ballot formed by a registered elector is counted accurately. All of Pennsylvania’s predetermination officials merit our thanks, arsenic good arsenic our continued enactment portion they implicit their duties with integrity," the connection said. 

The quality comes aft McCormick edged retired Casey by conscionable 17,000 votes to triumph the Senate seat, according to the astir caller unofficial data from the Department of State – putting Casey good wrong the 0.5% borderline of mistake required nether Pennsylvania instrumentality to trigger an automatic recount. 

That recount began Monday and was slated to extremity Nov. 26.

The Republican Party blasted Democrats this week for Casey's refusal to concede the U.S. Senate contention successful Pennsylvania, taking purpose astatine the three-term incumbent for moving up with a costly recount effort, contempt their appraisal that Casey lacked immoderate achievable way to victory.

They have besides criticized the cost, noting that the recount volition outgo taxpayers an estimated $1 million. 

In his connection Thursday, Casey praised the antiauthoritarian process and voters who turned retired successful the Keystone State.

"When a Pennsylvanian takes the clip to formed a ineligible vote, often waiting successful agelong lines and taking clip distant from their enactment and family, they merit to cognize that their ballot volition count," Casey said. "That’s democracy."

Later Thursday, Casey took to X to convey his supporters. 

"During my clip successful office, I person been guided by an inscription connected the Finance Building successful Harrisburg: ‘All nationalist work is simply a trust, fixed successful religion and accepted successful honor.’" 

He added: "Thank you for your spot successful maine each these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the grant of my lifetime." 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said the quality "hits me." 

"It’s been a ultimate grant to person Bob Casey arsenic a colleague, friend, and mentor," Fetterman said successful a statement. "His bequest is simply a amended Pennsylvania. Unassuming portion delivering for PA for astir 2 decades, helium fought for moving Pennsylvanians and unions, agrarian communities, seniors and radical with disabilities—all of us. Bob Casey was, is, and ever volition beryllium Pennsylvania’s champion senator."

EDITOR'S NOTE: This study has been updated to clarify that the Pennsylvania caput of authorities had not announced the extremity of the recount arsenic of Friday morning.