Pennsylvania’s Senate race is headed for a recount, with a narrow margin between Republican Dave McCormick and Democrat Sen. Bob Casey automatically triggered under state law.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced Wednesday that the unofficial results, which showed a close race, prompted the recount. Schmidt said in his announcement that states must begin the recount no later than Nov. 20, and they must complete the process by noon on Nov. 26. The results will not be published until November 27.
The two candidates are currently separated by just over 29,000 votes, or 0.4 percent of the total votes cast, with McCormick narrowly ahead. Any margin below 0.5 percentage points triggers a recount in Pennsylvania. NBC News has not yet predicted the winner of the race.
McCormick spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory called the Republican leadership “insurmountable” in a statement.
“A recount would be a waste of time and taxpayer money, but that’s Senator Casey’s prerogative,” Gregory said, referring to McCormick’s slight 2022 primary loss. I am confident that Senator Casey will eventually come to the right conclusion.”
Casey did not miss the race. “When the vote reaches a certain level, the state makes a decision, and they made that decision. There are more votes to count,” he said at the Capitol.
Casey said in a statement Tuesday that “the American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania, and it will be carried out.”
Former President Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania, helping him garner enough votes for the presidency. But the current vote count shows a significant gap between Trump and McCormick, with Trump winning more than 100,000 more votes than McCormick. Casey trails Vice President Kamala Harris by nearly 40,000 votes.
McCormick announced his victory days after the election, telling supporters in Pittsburgh last Friday that there was no way for Casey to overtake him.
“I wish him the best and his family the best and thank you for your service,” McCormick said. “But we have to continue to change the direction of the country.”
McCormick told reporters Friday when asked about the possibility of a recount: “I don’t know if there’s going to be a recount, but the people have spoken, there’s clearly a win, and I’m going to respectfully move forward on that basis.” “
Senate Republicans have already secured the Senate majority by picking up Senate seats in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana.
NBC News predicted that Democratic Senate candidates in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin won Senate races despite Trump carrying the states.
Julie Tsirkin contributed.