Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr. conceded his re-election campaign to his Republican rival, Dave McCormick, ending his recount efforts and confirming the GOP’s new Senate majority of 53-47. The Senate race was called by the Associated Press on Election Night, but McCormick’s slim margin of victory automatically triggered a recount. By Thursday, Casey was behind McCormick by about 16,500 votes, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported—a lead that the Democrat could not overcome after Pennsylvania courts decided against counting undated ballots. In a message posted on social media, Casey thanked election officials for their work in the recount effort. “This race was one of the closest in our commonwealth’s history, decided by less than a quarter of a point,” he said. Casey, the son of former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey Sr., was running for his fourth term representing the Keystone State in the Senate. “I want to thank the people of Pennsylvania for granting me the privilege of serving them for 28 consecutive years in public office as auditor general, state treasurer, and United States senator,” the outgoing Senator said. “Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me through all these years. It’s been the honor of my lifetime.” McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO, thanked Casey for his “decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice” in a statement posted on social media.
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