The race was called days after the election for McCormick, but Casey had refused to concede. He held out longer than any other Senate candidate in the 2024 cycle.

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“I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate,” Casey said in a statement. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last.”

“This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealth’s history, decided by less than a quarter of a point,” he added. “I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties.”

McCormick celebrated the win he had been expecting for days.

“Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice,” he said in a statement. “I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day. Thank you!”

Aside from being the closest of the 2024 cycle, the Pennsylvania Senate race was also the ugliest, featuring a legal battle centered on the counting of illegal ballots in several counties during the recount process.

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Four Pennsylvania counties openly disregarded a ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that ballots without signatures or dates cannot be counted, opening up a legal battle with Republican National Committee lawyers.

Bucks County led the charge, with Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia openly flouting the law. She voted to count ballots lacking dates or proper signatures in violation of court order, and admitted to breaking the law, but said she was justified.

“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” she said. “People violate laws any time they want. So, for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”

The Supreme Court reiterated its decision on Monday, singling out Bucks, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties for breaking the law.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) sided with the state Supreme Court.

“Any insinuation that our laws can be ignored or do not matter is irresponsible and does damage to faith in our electoral process. The rule of law matters in Pennsylvania. … It is critical for counties in both parties to respect it with both their rhetoric and their actions,” he said.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said Casey’s decision to concede “hit” him on Thursday night, pointing to the long track record the senior senator had representing Pennsylvania in the capital.

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“It’s been a supreme honor to have Bob Casey as a colleague, friend, and mentor. His legacy is a better Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said. “Unassuming while delivering for PA for nearly two decades, he fought for working Pennsylvanians and unions, rural communities, seniors and people with disabilities—all of us. Bob Casey was, is, and always will be Pennsylvania’s best senator.”

As of midday Thursday, McCormick was leading in the automatically triggered recount by 16,340 votes. The final results aren’t expected until Nov. 27.