Democratic officials in a few blue counties are openly admitting to counting disqualified ballots in defiance of state law and court orders amid a contentious recount of Pennsylvania’s Senate race.
Despite Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick being declared the winner by approximately 26,000 votes, Democrat opponent Bob Casey has refused to concede the race.
The close margin triggered an automatic recount, but a political showdown has emerged in recent days over which ballots should be counted.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled before the election that mail-in ballots lacking formally required signatures or dates should not be included in official results.
However, Democrats in Philadelphia and surrounding Bucks, Centre and Montgomery counties are ignoring that court order.
“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, said Thursday as she and other Democrats voted to reject a GOP-led challenge to ballots that should be disqualified.
🚨🚨🚨#BucksCounty Democrat Commissioners violate the rule of law and ignore PA Supreme Court ruling!
— Bucks GOP (@BucksGOP) November 14, 2024
Democrat Commissioners Diane Marseglia and Bob Harvie voted today to count illegal ballots, against PA Supreme Court ruling, in an attempt to aid former Senator Bob Casey.… pic.twitter.com/qAdFlVchmh
“People violate laws anytime they want. So, for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”
The McCormick campaign and Republican National Committee (RNC) have asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reaffirm its Nov. 1 decision to stop Democrats from including undated mail-in ballots in their final tallies.
“Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: Democrats in Pennsylvania are brazenly trying to break the law by attempting to count illegal ballots. They are doing this because they want to steal a senate seat,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley wrote on X Friday. “The RNC has filed four lawsuits over this already and will fight for as long as necessary.”
Let’s be clear about what’s happening here:
— Michael Whatley (@ChairmanWhatley) November 15, 2024
Democrats in Pennsylvania are brazenly trying to break the law by attempting to count illegal ballots. They are doing this because they want to steal a senate seat from @DaveMcCormickPA. The RNC has filed four lawsuits over this… https://t.co/5GmpZQUWpZ
“This is the exact kind of left-wing election interference that undermines voter confidence,” he added.
The Democrats’ flouting of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision even prompted the Washington Post to suggest the party “take heed” of the court’s ruling, “especially if they want to continue claiming theirs is the party of democracy.”