If you were watching the returns on election night, you probably remember the feeling of absolute confusion. One minute, the maps were flickering blue; the next, a deep red wave seemed to swallow the Keystone State. Honestly, it was a mess. But we finally have the answer to the question that kept half of Pennsylvania awake for weeks: Dave McCormick won the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania.
It wasn't a quick victory, though. Far from it. This race was a total nail-biter that eventually saw Republican challenger Dave McCormick unseat the long-time Democratic incumbent, Bob Casey Jr. For many, this was a massive upset. Casey had been in that seat since 2007—he was basically a fixture in Pennsylvania politics. Seeing him lose was like seeing a landmark suddenly disappear from the skyline.
The Final Numbers That Sealed the Deal
When the dust finally settled and the lawyers stopped arguing (sorta), the margin was razor-thin. We are talking about a state with millions of voters where the entire outcome was decided by a fraction of a percentage point.
Here is how the main players ended up:
- Dave McCormick (R): 3,399,295 votes (48.8%)
- Bob Casey Jr. (D): 3,384,180 votes (48.6%)
Yeah, you read that right. The gap was only about 15,000 to 16,000 votes depending on which final certification you look at. In a state as big as PA, that is basically a rounding error. Because the margin was under 0.5%, it actually triggered an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law.
Why the Race for the Senate in Pennsylvania Took Forever
Most people expected a call on Tuesday night or maybe Wednesday morning. Instead, we got a week of "too close to call" banners on every news station. The Associated Press (AP) was actually the first big outlet to stick its neck out, calling the race for McCormick on November 7, just two days after the election.
But Bob Casey didn't concede right away. He pointed to the tens of thousands of provisional and mail-in ballots that hadn't been processed yet. He wanted to make sure every single vote was counted, which is fair, but it drove the McCormick camp crazy.
The tension was high. There were lawsuits flying everywhere—mostly about "undated" or "misdated" mail-in ballots. If a voter forgot to write the date on the outside of their envelope, should the vote count? Republicans said no; Democrats said yes. This legal tug-of-war is basically a tradition in Pennsylvania elections at this point.
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The Recount Drama
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt officially ordered the recount on November 13. It was an expensive endeavor, estimated to cost taxpayers over $1 million. Counties had to start re-scanning ballots using different machines or hand-counting to ensure the first tally was right.
In the end, it didn't change much. Recounts rarely do when the lead is over a few hundred votes. On November 21, 2024, Bob Casey finally released a video conceding the race. He thanked his supporters and acknowledged that while the count was close, McCormick had the numbers.
Who is Dave McCormick?
If you aren't a political junkie, you might only know McCormick from those endless "Connecticut" commercials. His opponents hammered him for years about his residency, claiming he was a "carpetbagger" who lived in a Gold Coast mansion while pretending to be a local.
But McCormick has a pretty deep resume:
- West Point Grad: He’s a veteran who served in the first Gulf War.
- Business Background: He was the CEO of Bridgewater Associates, which is the world’s largest hedge fund.
- Bush Era Official: He served in the Treasury Department under George W. Bush.
He’s definitely not your average "MAGA" firebrand. He’s more of a traditional corporate Republican who managed to bridge the gap between the Trump base and the suburban voters in places like Bucks County and the Pittsburgh suburbs. That was his secret sauce. He stayed close enough to Donald Trump to get the endorsement but focused his own messaging on "inflation" and "border security"—the two things that voters kept saying they cared about most.
Why Bob Casey Lost
It’s honestly wild to see Casey lose. He was the son of a legendary PA governor. He had won statewide six times. So, what happened?
Basically, he got caught in a national wave. In 2024, voters were frustrated with the cost of living. Even though Casey tried to distance himself from the Biden-Harris administration by talking about "Greedflation," many voters just saw him as part of the establishment. Also, he was on the ballot with Donald Trump for the first time. In previous years, Casey had always run during "blue years" or midterms. This time, the Trump turnout in rural PA was just too much for Casey to overcome in the cities.
What This Means for You
Now that McCormick has been sworn in (which happened on January 3, 2025), the balance of power in D.C. has shifted. His win was one of the key flips that gave Republicans control of the Senate.
So, what should you keep an eye on?
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- Tax Policy: With his business background, McCormick is expected to be a major player in the upcoming debates over the 2025 tax cuts.
- Energy: He’s been a huge vocal supporter of fracking. Expect him to push for less regulation on Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry.
- Judicial Picks: Since Republicans now control the Senate, McCormick will be a "yes" vote for almost all of Trump’s conservative judge appointments.
Actionable Next Steps for Pennsylvanians:
- Track the Voting Record: Now that the election is over, the real work starts. Use sites like GovTrack to see how McCormick is actually voting compared to what he promised on the campaign trail.
- Reach Out: If you have an issue with federal agencies (Social Security, Veterans Affairs, etc.), McCormick’s office is now your point of contact for constituent services.
- Watch the 2026 Cycle: Believe it or not, the next big PA race is already brewing. We’ll be looking at the Governor’s race and State House seats soon.
The 2024 Senate race in Pennsylvania was a brutal, expensive, and stressful marathon. But the result is final: Dave McCormick is the junior Senator from Pennsylvania, joining John Fetterman to represent the state in Washington. Regardless of who you voted for, the transition marks a massive shift in the state's political identity.