Dave McCormick is attending his first day of Senate orientation at Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) invitation while his opponent, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), refuses to concede.
In a video posted to X on Tuesday, Casey said he is waiting for the remainder of the votes to be counted in his race, which the Associated Press called for McCormick late last week.
“Across our Commonwealth, close to 7 million people cast their votes in a free and fair election,” Casey said. “Our county election officials will finish counting those votes just like they do in every election. The American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania and that process will play out.”
So far, 98% of votes have been counted, with McCormick leading 49% to Casey’s 48.5%. As of Tuesday morning, McCormick is ahead by almost 35,000. Under Pennsylvania law, an automatic recount will be triggered if McCormick’s lead is 0.5% or less.
The AP called the race on Thursday after McCormick gained votes in blue districts and maintained a strong lead in red districts. Casey was winning Bucks County north of Philadelphia by less than half a point, despite winning it by 6 points in 2018, WGAL 8 reported.
Meanwhile, photos of McCormick’s appearance in the U.S. Capitol are making the rounds on social media.
In a photo posted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a smiling McCormick is seen holding a “Senator-elect” placard.
SPOTTED at Senate orientation pic.twitter.com/4kTUn9Dv0b
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) November 12, 2024
McCormick’s campaign communications director, Elizabeth Gregory, shared a picture to X of McCormick walking through a Capitol hallway.
“I’m excited to be here, glad I’ve been invited to the orientation and get to work for bringing about the change that the people of our great Commonwealth Pennsylvania have … excited to get to work,” McCormick said upon his arrival to Fox News.
Schumer initially did not invite McCormick or Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) to the new Senator orientation, but had a change of heart after pressure from colleagues, Semafor reported.
“Ruben Gallego and David McCormick have been invited to attend orientation,” a Schumer spokesman said Tuesday.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) called for both Gallego and McCormick to receive invitations, pointing out that it took 6 days for her 2018 race to be counted.
“I jumped on a redeye to DC to make senate orientation-I learned so much & made lasting relationships that week,” Sinema tweeted. “Dave McCormick & Ruben Gallego will be Senators for PA & AZ. They should be invited to orientation & start learning the job.”
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) echoed Sinema on X.
“While we are losing a good person and colleague in Senator Bob Casey, I believe the Senate will be gaining another good man in Senator-Elect David McCormick,” he wrote.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said some senators were planning to “personally escort McCormick into the building if necessary” before McCormick was given the invitation.
McCormick filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Philadelphia Board of Election and three city commissioners over provisional ballots. McCormick’s case seeks to challenge provisional ballots submitted by mail but were deemed invalid, in order to have the ballots sequestered until “further action is taken by the United States Supreme Court,” according to WHYY.
