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In a highly contested Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, GOP candidate Dave McCormick has declared victory while Democratic incumbent Sen. Bob Casey insists on waiting for every ballot to be counted. The Associated Press called the race in McCormick’s favor, prompting him to deliver a victory speech in Pittsburgh on Friday. McCormick expressed gratitude for Casey’s service and urged him to concede, referencing his own narrow loss in the 2022 GOP primary.

Despite holding a victory rally, McCormick’s campaign faced scrutiny over his Connecticut connections. On Saturday morning, he traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to attend his daughter’s soccer game, according to campaign communications director Elizabeth Gregory. This move highlighted an ongoing criticism from Casey, who had emphasized McCormick’s residential ties to Connecticut throughout the campaign.

The Associated Press stated that McCormick’s lead expanded as more votes from Republican-leaning areas were counted, but acknowledged that the remaining ballots, including provisional and military votes, could alter the outcome. By Sunday, other major news outlets had yet to confirm the AP's call, citing an outstanding estimate of 109,000 ballots.

Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State noted that over 100,000 ballots were still to be adjudicated, which has led Casey to withhold his concession. On Thursday, he emphasized the importance of every eligible vote being counted, invoking Pennsylvania’s democratic roots. Confidence in the vote-counting process remained a focal point for the Casey campaign, particularly with the potential for a recount if the margin falls to 0.5% or lower.

Legal actions also marked the week; McCormick faced a setback when a Philadelphia judge denied his request for additional GOP observers during the counting of provisional ballots. He subsequently withdrew another lawsuit seeking broader challenges to these ballots.

As of Sunday, unofficial vote counts showed McCormick leading with 3,370,659 votes (49.01%), while Casey trailed closely with 3,330,514 votes (48.43%). The tense wait continues as campaigns and voters alike await final, certified results.