Final court rulings and announcements from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

McCormick Declared Winner as PA Supreme Court Halts Illegal Ballot Counting in Casey Senate Race

Nov 18, 2024, 06:04 PM

In the closely contested Pennsylvania Senate race, Republican Dave McCormick has been declared the winner over incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, with unofficial results triggering a mandatory statewide recount due to the narrow margin of victory. McCormick's lead stands at approximately 17,000 votes, representing less than a 0.2% difference between the candidates. Controversy has emerged as Democratic officials in several counties, including Bucks, Philadelphia, Centre, and Montgomery, are accused of defying a Pennsylvania Supreme Court order by counting undated and misdated mail-in ballots deemed invalid. The court, in a unanimous 7-0 decision announced with a firm "SHALL COMPLY" directive, ruled that such ballots should not be counted. Despite the ruling, Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia of Bucks County, who has donated to Casey's campaign, openly admitted to counting these illegal ballots. Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have denounced these actions as blatant attempts to violate the rule of law and undermine the electoral process. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed at least 12 lawsuits and is exploring potential criminal charges against officials involved. Notably, prominent Democratic attorney Marc Elias is representing the Casey campaign in legal challenges seeking to include the disputed ballots. Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of State Al Schmidt have faced criticism for their silence on the issue. Analysts note that Casey would need to secure approximately 87% of the remaining ballots to overcome McCormick's lead, a scenario considered highly unlikely. The situation has raised concerns over election integrity and adherence to judicial rulings. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's intervention aims to enforce compliance with election laws, emphasizing that all counties must adhere to its ruling regarding ballot counting.