Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat, acknowledged defeat in Pennsylvania’s crucial Senate race on Thursday, conceding to Republican challenger Dave McCormick. In a video shared on X, Casey reflected on his years in office, quoting an inscription from Harrisburg’s Finance Building: “All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.” He expressed gratitude to Pennsylvanians for their trust, calling his time in office the honor of a lifetime.
On Friday, Pennsylvania’s secretary of the commonwealth announced that the state would halt its recount of the Senate race, following Casey’s request. An automatic recount had been initiated after unofficial results showed the margin between Casey and McCormick within 0.5%. As of now, McCormick holds a lead of approximately 16,000 votes, or 0.2 percentage points. Final certification of county results is due by Monday.
The race between Casey and McCormick tightened in the final stretch, with McCormick ultimately securing a narrow win
McCormick’s win represents an upset for Casey, a three-term incumbent, in a pivotal battleground state that also returned to Donald Trump in this year’s presidential election. Though Casey maintained a polling advantage for much of the campaign, the race tightened in its closing months. Pennsylvania became a focal point for both parties, drawing substantial campaign spending as they fought for control of the Senate.
McCormick, a former hedge fund executive, regularly appeared alongside Trump at rallies despite losing the former president’s endorsement in the 2022 primary. While often trailing Trump in public polls against Vice President Kamala Harris, McCormick and his Republican allies concentrated heavily on immigration, making it central to their 2024 platform. Republicans linked Casey to President Biden’s border policies through millions of dollars in attack ads.
Positioning himself as a change candidate, McCormick labeled Casey as ineffective, urging voters to opt for new leadership. Highlighting his background as a West Point graduate and former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, McCormick campaigned as a fresh alternative to the incumbent. His wife, Dina Powell, who served as a national security adviser under Trump, also added to his political ties.
In a dramatic moment during the campaign, McCormick narrowly avoided being on stage during an assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump’s advice to delay joining him by a few minutes potentially spared McCormick from danger.
McCormick’s victory brings political diversity to Pennsylvania’s Senate delegation, which now features senators from opposing parties. Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who defeated Mehmet Oz in 2022, remains in his first six-year term.
