Last updated: Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) The Associated Press has called Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race for Republican Dave McCormick, toppling a longtime incumbent and adding to Republicans’ gains nationwide.
Former hedge fund manager McCormick has ended Bob Casey’s hopes of a fourth term in the Senate, according to the AP, bringing Republicans up to a 53-seat majority in the chamber.
Election results
McCormick wins back a Pennsylvania Senate seat for the GOP, after Republican Mehmet Oz lost the seat formerly occupied by Pat Toomey to Democrat John Fetterman in 2022.
McCormick ran for that seat, but lost to Oz in a crowded primary.
During the campaign, McCormick called Casey a do-nothing, career politician dubbing Casey “Punxsutawny Bob” because McCormick said he only raised his head every six years to run for office.
McCormick is a West Point graduate who served in the Iraq war, then in the George W. Bush administration.
He became CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world.
Casey accused McCormick of being a carpetbagger and a political opportunist, as McCormick lived in Connecticut but ran for Senate in Pennsylvania. McCormick countered by repeatedly pointing out his Pennsylvania roots, growing up in Bloomsburg.
Casey had won six-straight statewide elections, dating back to 1996 when he first won auditor general. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate, beating Republican incumbent Rick Santorum, in 2006.
Casey’s campaign says the race cannot be called, as there are still tens of thousands of ballots to count across Pennsylvania, including military and overseas ballots.
“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,” said Maddy McDaniel, spokesperson for Bob Casey for Senate.
At the time of the AP’s declaration, McCormick led Casey by around 30,000 votes. While there was a delay in calling the race as counties across Pennsylvania continued their vote tallies, McCormick’s lead has remained consistent. The AP calls races when they determine a trailing candidate has no path victory.
If the final tally is without half of a percentage point, the Casey campaign could request a recount, those recounts very rarely change the outcome of a race.