In a major political turn, Pennsylvania's Democrat Sen. Bob Casey conceded his race to Republican Dave McCormick after a heated and closely watched contest.

McCormick's narrow victory has shifted the U.S. Senate's balance, handing Republicans the majority, as the Daily Caller reports.

The closely contested Pennsylvania Senate race culminated in a recount. Initially, on election night, the Associated Press called the race for McCormick, projecting him winning 49% to Casey's 48.5%.

However, Casey's campaign delayed conceding, pointing to thousands of uncounted ballots. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced on Nov. 13 that the narrow margin triggered a recount.

The recount was a response to the extremely tight race, where initially, thousands of votes remained uncounted, including mail, provisional, and military ballots.

Recount Confirms McCormick's Victory Over Casey

As the recount unfolded, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made a critical decision on Nov. 18, ruling that mail ballots with incorrect dates would not count, solidifying the tallies favoring McCormick.

Two days after Election Day, with the AP's early declaration holding, the recount efforts eventually confirmed McCormick as the victor.

On Thursday evening, Casey took to social media to officially concede. He released a video acknowledging the narrow defeat and congratulating McCormick.

Casey's Concession Marks End of Storied Career

In his concession speech, Casey reflected on the democratic process. "I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate," he said.

"This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealth's history, decided by less than a quarter of a point," Casey added, emphasizing the importance of every vote being counted.

He expressed gratitude towards those who worked diligently to ensure the election's integrity, highlighting the efforts of election officials across Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

Maddy McDaniel Speaks on Election Integrity

Maddy McDaniel, Casey’s campaign spokeswoman, had stressed the importance of counting every ballot. "This race is within half a point and cannot be called while the votes of thousands of Pennsylvanians are still being counted," she stated on Nov. 13.

Her comments underscored the campaign's commitment to ensuring that all voices were heard, regardless of the preliminary results.

Following the official recount results, McDaniel reiterated the importance of democracy and the campaign's dedication to representing all Pennsylvanians.

Dave McCormick Acknowledges Victory

Upon receiving Casey's concession, McCormick expressed his gratitude. "Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth," McCormick said.

"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 continued, acknowledging the legacy Casey leaves behind.

McCormick also committed to representing every citizen of Pennsylvania. "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!" he concluded.

Republican Majority Secured in Senate

With McCormick's victory, the Republicans have secured a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate. This shift is expected to influence legislative priorities and appointments significantly over the next year.

The Republican majority could reshape various policies, potentially altering the legislative landscape in Washington.

As Pennsylvania moves forward, the effects of this election will resonate, marking a significant shift in both state and national politics.