(Rightallegiance.com) – The Republican Party launched a fierce criticism of the Democratic Party on Monday, accusing Democrats of violating state law and engaging in “lawlessness” over the ongoing recount in Pennsylvania’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race. At the center of the controversy is three-term incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey, who is pushing forward with the costly recount effort despite Republican candidate David McCormick’s apparent victory.
The recount was triggered after McCormick narrowly defeated Casey, with the Associated Press declaring McCormick the winner. According to the unofficial tally, McCormick’s margin of victory is approximately 26,000 votes—well within the 0.5% threshold required by Pennsylvania law to trigger an automatic recount.
Bucks County Board decides they are above the law and count ballots against a supreme court decision
— ☕ Wαƙҽ Uρ NJ 🇺🇸 (@wakeupnj) November 14, 2024
It is obvious they are trying to steal a Senate seat in PA from the Republican's, they are not above the law and should be removed from the boardpic.twitter.com/pL4Dd1TGUJ
While the results were initially deemed clear enough to stand, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced last week that the recount would proceed due to outstanding ballots. Schmidt cited nearly 80,000 provisional, absentee, and mail-in ballots that had yet to be counted. The recount began on Monday and is scheduled to run through November 26, with final results expected to be released on November 27.
Despite this, Republican officials have strongly criticized Casey’s decision to continue with the recount. Party leaders argue that the margin of McCormick’s victory is large enough to render any further examination of the votes unnecessary, and they have labeled Casey’s actions as a blatant attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the race.
“Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: Democrats in Pennsylvania are brazenly trying to break the law by attempting to count illegal ballots,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in a scathing post on social media. Whatley further accused Democrats of attempting to “steal a Senate seat” through what he called “left-wing election interference.”
Republicans have also taken legal action, filing petitions with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to prevent counties from counting ballots that are either missing required dates or are improperly filled out. The counties in question include some of the state’s most populous, such as Bucks, Delaware, and Centre Counties.
Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Lawrence Tabas did not hold back in his criticism of the ongoing recount, calling the process “absolute lawlessness.” He claimed that the recount was a deliberate and illegal maneuver designed to reverse McCormick’s clear victory.
“This is a waste of taxpayer dollars,” Tabas continued, noting that the recount was projected to cost over $1 million. “The election is over, and the result is final. Bob Casey’s path to victory is non-existent, and this recount is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shift the outcome.”
In response to these attacks, Democratic leaders have defended the recount, arguing that it is both lawful and necessary to ensure the integrity of the election. Casey has expressed confidence that the recount will confirm his position, though he has not made public comments on the specific allegations raised by Republicans.
The Democratic Party’s decision to continue with the recount is also drawing attention due to the costs involved. The total price tag for the recount is expected to exceed $1 million, a significant expense in a state with a complicated electoral process. While Democrats argue that the recount is a legal right under Pennsylvania law, Republicans contend that the move is politically motivated and aimed at overturning the outcome of a fair election.
As the recount continues through the final days of November, all eyes will remain on Pennsylvania, with national political leaders and election observers watching closely for any developments that could impact the outcome. Republicans, in particular, are watching closely as the recount results are set to be released on November 27. Until then, the partisan battle over the legitimacy of the election will likely intensify.
For now, McCormick’s supporters are holding their breath, confident that the original results will stand, while Casey’s backers remain hopeful that the recount will yield a different outcome. Regardless of the outcome, the controversy surrounding the race has already cast a shadow over the broader political landscape, further fueling the partisan divide as both parties brace for the final results.
“This is the exact kind of left-wing election interference that undermines voter confidence,” Whatley concluded, vowing to continue challenging the recount process until McCormick’s victory is fully certified.