Democrat Bob Casey concedes Pennsylvania Senate race to Dave McCormick, ending recount

Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey connected Thursday announced helium has conceded the contention to Republican campaigner Dave McCormick, putting an extremity to a lengthy automatic recount successful the Keystone State 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 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.

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"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."