State orders recount in Pennsylvania senate race between Casey and McCormick

The race for United States senator representing Pennsylvania will go to a recount, officials announced Wednesday.

The unofficial results in the race between incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick stand at 3,380,310, or 48.93% for McCormick and 3,350,972, or 48.50% for Casey, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said in a news release.

The vote totals for both candidates are within the one-half of 1% margin, automatically triggering a recount.

The Associated Press has called the race for McCormick, though Casey, a Scranton native and resident, has yet to concede. McCormick, a Donald Trump-endorsed Army veteran and former hedge fund CEO, has declared victory.

McCormick filed a pair of lawsuits against the Philadelphia County election board and Philadelphia’s three city commissioners challenging up to 20,000 uncounted provisional ballots there.

As of Wednesday afternoon, county election officials statewide reported 60,366 uncounted provisional ballots and 20,155 uncounted mail-in and absentee ballots. That 80,521 total includes all ballots for which county boards of elections have not yet made a final resolution regarding their validity or eligibility to be counted.

Once counties finish counting their ballots, they must begin the recount no later than Nov. 20. They must complete the recount by noon Nov. 26 and must report results to the secretary of state by noon Nov. 27. Results of the recount will not be published until Nov. 27.

The department estimates that the recount cost will exceed $1 million of taxpayer funds.

In a statement Tuesday, Casey said he wants all votes to be counted.

“My priority has always been standing up for the people of Pennsylvania,” he said in the statement posted on his campaign website. “Across our Commonwealth, close to 7 million people cast their votes in a free and fair election. 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.

“I want to thank the election workers across our Commonwealth who have been working diligently over the weekend. Their work will ensure Pennsylvanians’ voices are heard.”

McCormick spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory said the recount effort is a waste.

“Senator-Elect McCormick’s lead is insurmountable, which the AP made clear in calling the race,” she said in an emailed statement. ” A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money, but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative. Senator-Elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion.”