Republicans are gearing up for a showdown with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer over Dave McCormick’s participation in Senate orientation, vowing to escort the Pennsylvania Republican into the Capitol if necessary.
At a Glance
- Republicans plan to defy Schumer and escort Dave McCormick into Senate orientation
- McCormick leads Democratic incumbent Bob Casey by about 39,000 votes
- GOP senators accuse Schumer of being an “election denier” for not inviting McCormick
- Republicans are on track to control the Senate with a projected 53-46 seat majority
Republicans Challenge Schumer’s Decision
In a bold move that underscores the growing partisan tensions in Washington, Republican senators are rallying behind Dave McCormick, offering to personally escort him into the Capitol for new-senator orientation. This comes in direct response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s refusal to invite McCormick, citing the ongoing vote count in Pennsylvania.
“I’m willing to personally escort McCormick into the Capitol for new-senator orientation. I’d like to see how they’d keep him out if he literally walked into ‘the room where it happens,'” Sen. Mike Lee said.
The Associated Press has declared McCormick the winner over Democratic incumbent Bob Casey, but Decision Desk HQ has not yet called the race. With 99% of ballots counted, McCormick leads Casey by 49% to 48.4%, a gap of around 39,000 votes.
GOP Accuses Schumer of Election Denial
Republican lawmakers are not mincing words in their criticism of Schumer’s decision. Senator Ted Cruz went as far as to label Schumer an “election denier,” highlighting the GOP’s frustration with the Democratic leader’s stance.
“Chuck Schumer is an election denier,” Sen. Ted Cruz said.
The controversy has ignited a firestorm among Republican senators, with many voicing their support for McCormick and condemning Schumer’s actions. Senator Katie Britt expressed her willingness to join the effort to bring McCormick to orientation, stating, “I’ll be right there alongside you, Mike. Dave McCormick is the Senator-elect for Pennsylvania. And deserves to be at orientation alongside every other member of his freshman class.”
The #PASen race has already been called. @DaveMcCormickPA won and Chuck Schumer lost. Yet Schumer is now blocking McCormick from attending freshman orientation. It’s time for Democrats to stop this nonsense and accept the results of the election.
— Thom Tillis (@ThomTillis) November 11, 2024
McCormick’s Confidence and Legal Challenges
Despite the ongoing controversy, McCormick remains confident in his victory. He has filed a petition to challenge a batch of 15,000-20,000 provisional ballots in Philadelphia, further solidifying his stance on the election results.
“Well the AP called this race a number of days ago because, mathematically, there’s no path for Sen. Casey to win. Currently, I’m up by something like 40,000 votes, which is a very significant margin,” Mr. McCormick said.
The situation is complicated by the fact that an automatic recount is triggered in Pennsylvania if the vote gap is within or equal to 0.5%. With over 100,000 ballots still being counted, according to Casey’s camp, the final outcome remains uncertain.
Broader Implications for Senate Control
This controversy comes at a crucial time for the Republican Party, which is poised to take control of the Senate. Forecasts project a 53-46 seat majority for the GOP, potentially marking their first trifecta of power since 2017 and 2018.
The situation has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. Even outgoing Senator Kyrsten Sinema has argued that both McCormick and Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego from Arizona should be allowed to attend orientation, despite their races being undecided.
As the drama unfolds, it’s clear that this dispute over Senate orientation is more than just a procedural disagreement. It represents a larger battle over election integrity, partisan politics, and the balance of power in Washington.
Republicans are not going to have it easy the next four years – and they have an awful lot to do in just the next two. After all, the midterms could easily strip the Republicans of their power – as it often does for any incumbent party.
