Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has conceded to Republican rival Dave McCormick.
The three-term senator announced his concession in a statement shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday.
McCormick defeated Casey by more than 16,000 votes in the tightest margin of Casey’s career and one of the most competitive Pennsylvania Senate contests in recent memory.
The Republican businessman secured 48.8% of the vote to Casey’s 48.6%.
McCormick thanked Casey for his public service to the state and his hard work.
“Sen. Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Sen. Casey, Terese and their family for their decades of service, hard work and personal sacrifice,” McCormick said. “I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day.”
McCormick was already declared the winner by the Associated Press, but Casey held out in hopes that outstanding votes would push him over the top.
Casey said he called McCormick Thursday evening to concede. He said in his statement that he was awaiting the final vote count.
During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: “All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.”
Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime. pic.twitter.com/RSXEFwdge8
— Bob Casey Jr. (@Bob_Casey) November 21, 2024
“As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last,” Casey said.
“This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealth’s history, decided by less than a quarter of a point. I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties.”
The slim margin of the race triggered a legally mandated recount, which began this week and is still ongoing.
Allegheny County election officials finished their recount Thursday and expect to finalize the results Friday.
While recounts often change the results of the final vote, they rarely alter the margin enough to change the outcome.
Of the seven previous Pennsylvania state recounts in the last 20 years that have been legally triggered and completed, three were waived by the losing candidates.
In the four that weren’t conceded, the recount did not change the outcome and confirmed the candidate that was ahead before the recount, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
No regrets
Casey, a political scion of Pennsylvania, has held public office in the state since 1997.
The Scranton native is the son of former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey Sr. He was first elected to the Senate in 2007 after serving as the state’s treasurer and auditor general.
Casey, 64, will leave public office along with another son of Scranton, his close friend President Joe Biden. Both politicians grew up in the same neighborhood, though in different eras. Biden is 82.
The Democratic senator stood by Biden longer than many of his colleagues, even as the president dipped in popularity and dropped out of the race in July.
That loyalty to the Biden-Harris administration might have cost Casey.
McCormick narrowly defeated Casey, but the Republican senator-elect underperformed President-elect Donald Trump by 1.5 percentage points.
And, while other swing-state Democrats outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris, Casey merely matched her and came up short.
In the five swing states Trump won that had Senate races, Casey was the only Democratic Senate candidate to lose.
Casey is proud of the career he built in Pennsylvania, and said he doesn’t have regrets.
“Every day I have served in public office, I’ve fought for Pennsylvania workers, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and our veterans,” he said. “During that time, I’ve been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: ‘All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.’ ”
‘Pennsylvania’s best senator’
Well wishes from Casey’s allies began pouring in shortly after his concession.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, called Casey a friend and mentor and said it has been an honor serving with him.
“His legacy is a better Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. “Unassuming while delivering for PA for nearly two decades, he fought for working Pennsylvanians and unions, rural communities, seniors and people with disabilities — all of us.
“Bob Casey was, is and always will be Pennsylvania’s best senator.”
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, posted on X that it has been an honor serving with Casey.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said Casey embodies what it means to be a true public servant.
“He has spent his life working to help Pennsylvania families, workers, kids and seniors,” Davis said. “Thank you for your years of dedicated service to the good people of Pennsylvania.”
