(WHTM) - A legally required statewide recount has been ordered in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race with the margin of separation within half a percent.
As of today, the unofficial returns for the U.S. Senate race submitted by all 67 counties show the following results for the top two candidates:
David H. McCormick – 3,380,310 (48.93%)
Robert P. Casey Jr. – 3,350,972 (48.50%)
The Department of States says there is an estimated 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.
McCormick has declared victory in the race and is in Washington D.C. for orientation, however, Casey has not conceded and has called for all votes to be counted.
The recount must begin no later than Wednesday, November 20, and must be completed by 12 p.m. on November 26.
The Department of State estimates the recount will cost taxpayers $1 million.
This is McCormick's second recount that he is involved in. In 2022, the Republican primary for U.S. Senate seat that he ran in also had to be recounted.
This is the eighth automatic recount triggered since 2004 in Pennsylvania. In four of the cases the recount was carried out the initial outcome was confirmed. In the other three cases the full recount was not completed due to a candidate waiving the recount.
Republicans are projected to control the Senate after wins across the country on Election Day, however adding McCormick to a growing majority could help push through President-election Donald Trump's agenda.
In a statement Wednesday, the McCormick campaign said his "lead is insurmountable."
"A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money, but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative," the campaign said. "Senator-Elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion."
