Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has refused to invite Pennsylvania Senator-elect Dave McCormick to this week’s Senate orientation sessions for the newly elected senators as the top Democrat in the Senate has attempted to question the 2024 election results.
According to Fox News, a Schumer spokesperson confirmed that McCormick was not invited as part of the Senate orientation sessions since there were “over 100,000 ballots left to be counted” in Pennsylvania’s Senate race between McCormick and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and that the race “has not been decided.” The Schumer spokesperson added, “As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted.”
Fox News reported that The Associated Press called the Pennsylvania Senate Race for McCormick on Thursday, as the Republican challenger held a 30,000-vote lead over the Democratic incumbent. However, Casey has refused to concede to McCormick in the aftermath of the 2024 election.
In a Monday post on X, formerly Twitter, McCormick wrote, “Looking forward to joining the Senate freshman class of 2025 for orientation this week! 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!”
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In response to Schumer’s refusal to invite McCormick to this week’s orientation, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) slammed Schumer for “denying legit election results” and “blocking” the Republican from participating in orientation. Daines described Schumer’s actions as “outrageous” and “a disservice” to both Pennsylvania and the United States.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), who is running for Senate majority leader, argued it was “beyond unacceptable” that Schumer would not allow McCormick to participate in the new senator orientation.
Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) also released a statement, saying, “Schumer and Senate Democrats are denying the election results in #PASen. Trying to block @DaveMcCormickPA from attending Senate orientation this week is an outrage. Casey must concede immediately or Senate Democrats face consequences.”
On Sunday, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) offered to “personally escort” McCormick into the U.S. Capitol for orientation. “I’d like to see how they’d keep him out if he literally walked into ‘the room where it happens,'” Lee added.
Fox News reported that other Republican senators, such as Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Miss.) and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), indicated that they would join Lee in escorting McCormick this week.
