David McCormick’s hard-fought victory over three-term Democratic Senator Bob Casey in Pennsylvania’s Senate race has left the opposition scrambling for Hail Mary plays. Despite the Associated Press and DecisionDeskHQ calling the race for McCormick last week, Casey has yet to concede, clinging to the hope that a recount could magically reverse his fortunes. Spearheading this dubious effort is none other than Marc Elias, the Democrats’ go-to election fixer, whose reputation for navigating the murkier waters of electoral challenges precedes him. While recounts rarely alter outcomes, when they do, it’s uncanny how the results often favor Democrats. Funny how that works.
Fortunately, the numbers aren’t in Casey’s favor. McCormick’s lead stands at over 20,000 votes—a margin so robust that even the most creative recount would struggle to bridge it. But when has that ever stopped a determined Democrat from trying? Casey and Elias seem intent on exploiting every possible loophole, and in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, they’ve found willing accomplices in the form of Democratic commissioners eager to play fast and loose with election law.
In a 2-1 vote, Bucks County’s Democratic commissioners, Robert Harvie Jr. and Diane Marseglia, decided to openly flout Pennsylvania state law and a state Supreme Court ruling by counting 124 ballots that weren’t properly signed. Their own legal counsel advised against it, but the duo pressed on anyway. Marseglia even admitted that violating the law was part of a larger strategy, saying she wanted the courts to “pay attention” by creating a spectacle. Apparently, upholding the integrity of elections is less important than making a political statement when there’s power on the line.
This isn’t just a Bucks County issue. Similar shenanigans are playing out in Philadelphia, where city commissioners have decided to count undated and incorrectly dated mail ballots. Republicans have filed petitions with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to block such moves, but the process is a glaring example of how Democrats are willing to bend—or outright ignore—rules in pursuit of their goals. It’s worth noting that the same Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of Republicans just weeks ago to prevent the counting of undated mail-in ballots. The fact that this ruling is already being ignored speaks volumes about the state of election integrity.
An RNC official expressed frustration over the blatant disregard for recent court decisions, pointing out that McCormick is already in Washington, D.C., for Senate orientation. Meanwhile, Democrats appear to be using Casey’s loss as a fundraising opportunity, with legal challenges serving as little more than a cash grab for their operatives. But the real concern isn’t the recount or even the illegal ballots—it’s the potential for “newly discovered” ballots to mysteriously materialize. History offers chilling examples, such as the 2005 Washington gubernatorial race and the infamous 2008 Senate race in Minnesota, where razor-thin margins were overturned thanks to conveniently found votes.
While McCormick’s victory seems secure, these tactics are a sobering reminder of how far some will go to manipulate election outcomes. With Democrats pulling out all the stops and Republicans fighting to enforce the law, Pennsylvania’s Senate race is shaping up to be another chapter in the ongoing battle for election integrity.
