Pennsylvania suffers as Sen. Bob Casey refuses to concede to Dave McCormick

Sen. Bob Casey’s decision not to concede the election is negatively impacting the residents of Pennsylvania.

The Republican Dave McCormick won against the three-term incumbent in a surprising turn of events a week ago.

Initially, Casey did not accept defeat until all the ballots from GOP-majority Cambria County were hand-counted from the Nov. 5 election.

A computer issue on Election Day required the use of paper ballots and manual counting, and as the votes were tallied in Cambria on Wednesday and Thursday, McCormick’s lead extended, prompting even the Associated Press to declare him the winner on Thursday.

Casey then focused on the canvassing of provisional ballots as his reason for not acknowledging his defeat.

In Pennsylvania, the canvassing of provisional ballots is a slow and complex process that can vary by county.

As of now, McCormick holds a lead of about 35,000 votes over Casey.

While hope remains, given the number of provisional ballots yet to be counted and McCormick’s consistent lead across Pennsylvania, it is clear that Sen. Casey has lost the election.

Dave McCormick is expected to maintain a significant lead once all provisional ballots are accounted for.

Under Pennsylvania law, if the margin is below 0.5%, an automatic recount will be initiated, costing taxpayers around $2 million. 

However, the cost is not just financial; it also diverts valuable time and attention from McCormick that should be spent on transitioning into office to serve Pennsylvania residents. 

So, why is our senior senator refusing to concede?

It may be related to fundraising, as during the post-election period, Casey and the Democratic National Committee have been sending numerous fundraising emails urging donors to support the recount efforts.

Considering that Casey sent this email on Saturday, Nov. 9, his reluctance to concede could be helping him and the DNC raise funds to cover expenses or settle campaign debts.

It is important to note that the email did not mention the vote count, remaining provisional ballots, or the likelihood that Dave McCormick will be the senator-elect for Pennsylvania.

Casey is not alone in this situation — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic “superlawyer” Marc Elias are also involved.

Marc Elias, known for his involvement in various political controversies, is part of this current situation. Schumer initially refused to include Senator-elect McCormick in the orientation for new senators, demonstrating how Casey’s refusal to concede is negatively impacting Pennsylvanians.

Having run statewide in Pennsylvania twice and supported Republican candidates for over two decades, I understand that public servants are people first and foremost.

The interactions, experiences, and conversations that occur during the orientation process are crucial for our senator-elect as he prepares to represent us in Washington.

Interpersonal relationships play a significant role in politics, making Schumer’s initial decision to exclude McCormick a hindrance to his ability to advocate effectively for Pennsylvania’s interests. 

By refusing to aid in McCormick’s transition to the Senate, Casey is failing to serve the constituents he has represented for nearly three decades in statewide office. 

If Casey’s actions result in McCormick missing out on key staff hires or essential committee assignments, his behavior goes beyond being petulant to vindictive and ultimately harmful.

For the sake of his legacy and the well-being of Pennsylvanians, Casey should concede.

After an arduous campaign that tested the characters of both men under intense scrutiny, the people of Pennsylvania chose between Bob Casey and Dave McCormick on Election Day.

Casey’s behavior serves as further evidence as to why Pennsylvanians believed McCormick is the right choice to represent the state moving forward. 

Jeff Bartos is a Republican strategist from Pennsylvania.

Twitter: @Jeff_Bartos