Republican Senate candidate David McCormick has won the Pennsylvania Senate race, unseating incumbent Sen. Bob Casey in a stunning upset after trailing him for months.
It’s a sign of Donald Trump’s influence in the battleground state that gave the now-president-elect a major victory on election night, propelling him back to the White House.
Republicans sought to take the seat in the crucial swing state as they move to expand their new majority in the Senate.
McCormick’s race against the three-term incumbent was one of the most expensive in the country.
Earlier Thursday, McCormick’s campaign said they anticipated a victory despite the slim difference in votes cast for the candidates.
Republican Senate candidate David McCormick at his election night party
The race was still too close to call, but his campaign released a statement saying that when all is said and done, McCormick would be the Keystone State’s next senator.
However, Casey’s campaign noted that the race is halfway through, triggering an automatic recount in the state as tens of thousands of votes remain to be counted.
“It looks like we’re going in a very good direction,” McCormick said to applause at his watch party as voting took place Tuesday night.
Casey has represented Pennsylvania since 2007 and has deep ties to the state he represents. His father was governor there.
He ran as a candidate who would protect access to abortion rights, health care, Social Security and Medicare, while criticizing his opponent as a wealthy state that would give tax cuts to billionaires.
Republican David McCormick first ran for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, but lost the primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz, who had the support of Donald Trump.
He ran again and won the primary. He and Trump put aside their differences and became allies during the election campaign in the state.
The businessman previously served as CEO of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, as well as in the Bush administration.
Senate candidate David McCormick on election night with his wife Dina Powell
Republican Senate candidate Davide McCormick with former Governor Nikki Haley on October 30
Although he was born in Pennsylvania and grew up near Pittsburgh, he faced criticism on the campaign trail for running in the Keystone State while living in Connecticut.
He has a residence in Connecticut, where he lived until he began running for political office, but he also owns a home in Pittsburgh.
McCormick ran as a job creator and close ally of Israel, while criticizing his opponent for not strongly condemning anti-Israel protesters and for attempting to link him to President Biden.
Senator Bob Casey speaking at a campaign rally on October 28 in Philadelphia.
Casey supporters hug as they leave his election night watch party in Scranton, PA, before the race is called.
While the Pennsylvania presidential race has remained very close, Casey managed to maintain a small lead over McCormick throughout the election season in the polls.
He also had the backing of some of his biggest supporters, including President Obama, who campaigned for him in the state.