Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has reversed course and invited Pennsylvania Republican Dave McCormick to the chamber’s orientation for new senators following an initial snub because of uncounted ballots in McCormick’s race.
McCormick was declared the winner Friday by The Associated Press in an upset victory, but Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey has not conceded.
Schumer’s office told reporters Tuesday that he had extended an invitation to McCormick, according to The Hill. The invite came after pressure from Republican senators.
McCormick, 59, of Pittsburgh arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday morning.
He leads Casey by about 35,000 votes as of Tuesday morning. McCormick has secured 49% of the vote to Casey’s 48.5%.
There are still likely over 100,000 ballots left to count.
Casey, a three-term incumbent and scion of Pennsylvania Democratic politics, reiterated in a statement Tuesday that he is not conceding. He said that all the votes should be cast before the race is called.
“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,” Casey said. “The American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania and that process will play out.”
The McCormick campaign has argued that the remaining ballots will not break hard enough for Casey to close the gap, and that he should concede.
A large number of the outstanding ballots are expected to be counted Tuesday.
If the race between McCormick and Casey narrows to within 0.5 percentage point, it would be subject to an automatic recount under state law.