In the Pennsylvania Republican Senate primary, Dave McCormick concedes to Mehmet Oz.

On Friday evening, Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick conceded the Republican primary contest to Mehmet Oz.

McCormick made the declaration in front of a crowd of supporters and the media, describing the recount as “nearly complete.”

On Friday, he called Oz to congratulate him and to urge his followers to vote for him in November’s election against Democrat John Fetterman.

“With the recount nearly complete, it’s clear to me that we have a nominee. I also called Mehmet Oz today to congratulate him on his win. And I told him what I’ve always told you: I’ll do all I can to help him unite Republicans and Pennsylvanians behind his candidacy, behind his Senate nomination. It is critical for the state of Pennsylvania that we defeat John Fetterman “According to McCormick.

Oz, who was endorsed in the race by former President Trump, reacted to McCormick’s concession by saying, “I received a kind phone call from David McCormick this evening, and I am appreciative for his vow of support in the next election. We all want a better future for Pennsylvania and the United States. We will ensure that this U.S. Senate seat does not fall into the hands of the radical left, led by John Fetterman, now that our primary is done. For the next five months, I plan to campaign in every part of the Commonwealth in order to win the support of every Pennsylvanian.”

Despite McCormick’s capitulation, the Pennsylvania Department of State announced it will continue the recount.

“Despite the fact that David McCormick has surrendered the Pennsylvania Republican Senate race to Mehmet Oz, the Secretary of State has ordered an automatic recount of the race.” The deadline for the lost candidate to waive the recount has gone, and no provision in the election code allows the Secretary to stop an automatic recount after it has been ordered. Counties should keep working to finish their recounts by noon on June 7 and report their results to the Secretary by noon on June 8.”
“I feel it is time to move ahead to bringing new leadership to PA and I look forward to helping flip the Senate,” Kathy Barnette, a former Republican primary candidate in Pennsylvania, said. PA

In Pennsylvania’s Republican primary, businessman Dave McCormick publicly conceded to Mehmet Oz, making Oz the official GOP nominee to run for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.

The story that was making the rounds was that the incredibly close contest between McCormick and Oz had gone to a recount, but McCormick was still losing. In November, Trump’s ally Oz will take against Pennsylvania’s Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is recovering from a stroke.

The larger picture: As McCormick conceded, a recount of the Senate Republican primary results was beginning.

The election was widely viewed as a litmus test for Trump’s hold on the Republican Party. Early in the primaries, Trump nominated Oz, a celebrity TV doctor, and as the recount progressed, Oz declared himself the presumptive nominee.

Days before the primary, Trump fans in Pennsylvania booed the mention of Oz’s name.
According to Axios’ Mike D’Onofrio Taylor Allen, it was also one of the most costly U.S. Senate contests in the country, with millions of dollars donated from across the country.

Oz personally invested at least $12 million in the election. At least $11 million was spent by McCormick.

The Republican primary struggle also became a debate over mail-in voting. At the end of May, McCormick filed a lawsuit in a Pennsylvania court to ensure that all Republican mail-in ballots without a handwritten signature may be tallied.

According to Axios’ Alayna Treene, Democrats haven’t been waiting for a recount vote since they’ve already launched a campaign blitz against both candidates.

The contest to replace retiring Senator Pat Toomey (R) will be closely watched around the country, with the outcome potentially determining control of the upper chamber.