Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer‘s (D-NY) decision not to invite Senator-elect David McCormick (R-PA) to Senate orientation day was decried by Republicans.
McCormick was announced the winner of the 2024 Pennsylvania Senate election on Thursday, but incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) has refused to concede. In line with Casey’s refusal to concede, Schumer blocked McCormick from orientation day.
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“With over 100,000 ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania, the race has not been decided. As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted,” a Schumer spokesperson told the Washington Examiner in a statement.
Republicans were swift in expressing their outrage over the move.
“Senator-elect Dave McCormick won,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said. “Chuck Schumer’s shameful, election-denying decision to block McCormick from Senate orientation shows Schumer’s true character.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) cried hypocrisy, pointing to previous rhetoric from Democrats denouncing Republicans who questioned election results.
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“Schumer is not allowing [McCormick] to participate in Senate orientation this week because Casey refuses to concede the race,” he said. “What happened to all the demands that our leaders accept the outcome of the elections?”
Two of the leading candidates for the Republican Senate leadership spot, Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Rick Scott (R-FL), also expressed their outrage.
“Dave McCormick is the new senator for Pennsylvania. The idea that Schumer would not allow him to participate in Senate orientation is beyond unacceptable,” Thune said. “The voters of Pennsylvania have spoken. Looking forward to having Dave’s strong voice in the Senate Republican Conference.”
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“Dave McCormick is the senator-elect & [Schumer]’s move to not allow him to participate in orientation this week is disgusting,” Scott said. “They did the same thing to me after I beat a Democrat in 2018. We have to fight this! AP called it. Dave won, Casey must concede NOW.”
Casey was long a staple of Pennsylvania politics, being elected to his current position in 2006. He was vying for his fourth term.
