Dave McCormick is not being allowed to attend an orientation for new U.S. senators despite that news outlets have called the Pennsylvania Senate race in his favor, the top Democrat in the upper chamber says.
“With over 100,000 ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania, the race has not been decided,” a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told news outlets on Nov. 10.
“As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted.”
The race between McCormick, a Republican businessman, and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) was called on Nov. 7 by The Associated Press and some other outlets.
Casey has held off conceding, as Pennsylvania officials have said that they are still processing thousands of ballots.
“I’m committed to ensuring that Pennsylvanians’ voices are heard,” Casey said on social media platform X on Nov. 10.
McCormick has said he’s honored to represent Pennsylvania in the Senate. He has not appeared to comment about being blocked from the Senate orientation.
Top Republicans in the upper chamber decried Schumer’s move.
“Dave McCormick is the new senator for Pennsylvania. The idea that Schumer would not allow him to participate in Senate orientation is beyond unacceptable,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), who is vying to become the new Senate majority leader, said on X.
“The voters of Pennsylvania have spoken. Looking forward to having Dave’s strong voice in the Senate Republican Conference.”
“They did the same thing to me after I beat a Democrat in 2018. We have to fight this!” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), another contender for the top Republican position, said in a post.
As of Nov. 11, McCormick has 3.37 million votes to Casey’s 3.33 million. The margin is 0.6 percentage points. If it ends up being 0.5 points or slimmer, an automatic recount will happen.
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