Sen. Bob Casey on Thursday conceded a contentious and costly U.S. Senate race to Republican challenger David McCormick, marking the close of nearly 20 years in the Senate for one of Pennsylvania’s best-known politicians and sealing yet another loss for Democrats on Capitol Hill just as the second Trump administration is poised to come to power.
Announced in a speech Mr. Casey shared in a social media video Thursday evening, the concession came after mounting pressure from Republicans across the country who said the three-term Democrat had no chance of overcoming Mr. McCormick’s nearly 17,000-vote margin even with thousands of ballots embroiled in court and an automatic recount already underway.
“Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania,” the characteristically reserved Mr. Casey, 64, said straight into the camera. “It has been the honor of my lifetime.”
According to the McCormick campaign, Mr. Casey had netted only seven additional votes after 16 counties had completed recounts thus far.
First elected in 2006, Mr. Casey was the son of a popular former governor and he previously served as auditor general and state treasurer. He has long been one of Pennsylvania’s most well-known politicians, perhaps second only to his friend and fellow Scranton native President Joe Biden. Until this year, Mr. Casey had won each of his Senate races by at least 9 percentage points, and he received more votes than President Barack Obama in Pennsylvania in 2012.
“I want to thank the people of Pennsylvania for granting me the privilege of serving them for 28 consecutive years in public office,” he said. “Every day I served in public office, I fought for Pennsylvania workers, our children, seniors, people with disabilities and our veterans.”
Mr. Casey added that he called his Republican opponent to congratulate him.