Dave McCormick invited to Senate orientation by Chuck Schumer after pressure from GOP

WASHINGTON — Dave McCormick , the Republican former hedge fund CEO poised to take Sen. Bob Casey's seat in January, has been invited to the Senate orientation Wednesday.

Just two days after saying McCormick — whose tight race against Casey was called by the Associated Press last week — wouldn't be invited until all the final votes were counted, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's office said Tuesday that an invitation had been extended.

"Ruben Gallego and David McCormick have been invited to attend orientation," a spokesperson for the New York Democrat said Tuesday.

The AP called the race for Arizona Sen.-elect Ruben Gallego Monday night.

Republican senators had been pressuring Schumer for days to include McCormick, who as of Tuesday morning leads Casey by 35,000 votes. If McCormick wins by less than half a percentage point, state law requires an automatic recount unless Mr. Casey asks the Department of State not to have one.

Sen. Mike Lee, R- Utah, called it "an absolute outrage" to exclude the Pennsylvania Republican from the orientation for freshmen senators. He said some senators planned to "personally escort McCormick into the building if necessary."

A Schumer spokesperson had previously told Politico that the Casey-McCormick race "has not been decided," with more than 100,000 ballots left to be counted.

"As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted," the spokesperson said.

Casey has not conceded.

"Across our Commonwealth, close to 7 million people cast their votes in a free and fair election," he said on X on Tuesday. "The American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania and that process will play out."

McCormick said Monday he would be in Washington regardless of the invitation drama.

"Looking forward to joining the Senate freshman class of 2025 for orientation this week," he said on X. "I'm honored to represent the people of Pennsylvania, and will fight hard to make sure their voices are heard in Washington. Let's get to work."