PA Senate Race Headed For Recount: What We Know

PENNSYLVANIA ? More than a week after Election Day, the U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick is so tight that votes will be recounted each of the state's 67 counties.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced Wednesday that preliminary results were within the 0.5 percent margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania state law.

According to the Department of State website, as of Thursday morning McCormick had 3,380,310 votes to Casey's 3,350,972 votes. That gives McCormick 48.93 percent of the vote to Casey's 48.50 percent of the vote.

According to the state department, the recount will cost taxpayers $1 million. Counties must begin recounting votes no later than Nov. 20, finish by noon on Nov. 26 and report the results to the state department by Nov. 27 - the day before Thanksgiving.

The Associated Press last week projected McCormick as the winner, but Casey has yet to concede as provisional ballots continue to be counted. McCormick was in Washington on Wednesday attending a Senate orientation session.

On Wednesday night, the McCormick campaign in a statement termed his lead insurmountable.

"A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money, but it is Senator Casey's prerogative," the statement said. "Senator-Elect McCormick knows what it's like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion."

In 2022, McCormick lost the Republican U.S. Senate primary to Mehmet Oz following a recount.

In his most recent comments on the race, Casey on Tuesday 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.?