Republican Dave McCormick defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania’s Senate race, The Associated Press projected, marking the 53rd Senate seat Republicans have captured in winning back the majority.
Pennsylvania saw one of the most expensive Senate races in the country this cycle — and McCormick had early backing from national Republican operatives during the state’s GOP primaries. But Casey has deep ties in Pennsylvania, a state where the Senate race played out alongside huge focus from presidential candidates.
Casey has held his seat since 2007. His father was the governor of Pennsylvania for two terms between the 80s and 90s. Republicans heavily sought to brand Casey as a career politician. McCormick, by contrast, has spent his career in the private sector, including at hedge funds that earned him some criticism from Democrats.
McCormick’s win is also a Keystone State redemption for Republicans after Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) flipped his now-seat from red to blue in 2022. McCormick ran for Senate in the 2022 cycle as well but did not make it past the GOP primary.
Casey’s campaign on Thursday said it’s not conceding yet. Spokesperson Maddy McDaniel wrote in a statement: “As the Pennsylvania Secretary of State said this afternoon, there are tens of thousands of ballots across the Commonwealth still to count, which includes provisional ballots, military and overseas ballots, and mail ballots. This race is within half a point and cannot be called while the votes of thousands of Pennsylvanians are still being counted. We will make sure every Pennsylvanian’s voice is heard.”