The 95-year-old mother of an American teacher who has been imprisoned at a high-security penal colony in Russia for four years said she has hope that President Donald Trump will secure her son’s freedom before she dies.
“We are rooting for President Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio to bring Marc home,” Malphine Fogel told The Daily Wire. “I know a lot of people in the administration know his name, and I just hope that they follow through and get something done.”
The 63-year-old was given a 14-year prison sentence for possessing medical marijuana in 2021. An employee of the Anglo-American School of Moscow, Marc Fogel spent 27 years teaching overseas, and was planning to retire the year he was arrested. An American doctor prescribed the marijuana after Fogel had surgeries on his back, shoulder, and knee. 
“Anything could happen, it would break Marc’s heart to not be able to see me again,” she said. “I’m sure he worries about me.”
The State Department designated Fogel as “wrongfully detained” in December.
Malphine met with President Donald Trump at his July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he told her he would do everything he could to free her son if elected.
“When I met President Trump, he told me to take his arm because he could see I struggle with walking after I broke my kneecap,” she said. “He was very cordial and interested in my son’s situation. I just kept telling him he needs to remember Marc’s name.”
Malphine was scheduled to appear <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-trump-rally-vip-recounts-heroism-amid-assassination-attempt-chaos">on stage</a> with Trump until a would-be assassin fired at Trump. Fogel was standing about 25 feet away from Trump when the shots rang out.
Malphine said Trump repeated Marc’s name and promised to get him out three times. 
While she hasn’t heard directly from Trump since last July, she believes the president remembers the meeting and will honor his word.
A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Wire that the United States has been continuing efforts to bring Fogel home and will not “rest until Marc and all Americans wrongfully detained around the world are returned home.”
Fogel has strong allies in his corner, including newly-elected Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) who has relentlessly advocated for Fogel’s release. During Rubio’s confirmation hearing, McCormick asked about Fogel.
“This is a case that has to be elevated and hopefully one that can be done through strong private diplomacy at a minimum as a goodwill gesture because if they are not willing to do this … then I think the chances of improvement in U.S.-Russia relations are impossible,” Rubio said.
He added that he has met with Fogel’s family in the past, and believes Marc was arrested because of an order in Russia to arrest Americans for anything they can be charged with in order to exchange them in the future.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Marco Rubio just said that improving U.S.-Russia relations will be impossible unless Russian authorities release Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher who has been imprisoned in Russia for over three years.
I&#8217;ve been covering Fogel&#8217;s case for months. It is a sad one. <a href="https://t.co/szP45AtmyD">pic.twitter.com/szP45AtmyD</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1879568117514580422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
According to Free Marc Fogel spokesperson Vicki Iseman, the majority of cases like Fogel’s in Russia are thrown out before making it to trial. 
“This points to the fact that Marc is being held as a hostage,” his mother said.
In a January letter, McCormick, along with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and several members of Congress pressured Rubio to use his new role to fight for Fogel’s release.
“The Russian Government’s outrageous treatment of this American teacher is a clear effort to use Marc as a political pawn to exert leverage on the United States,” the letter stated. “It must not stand.”
The <a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/meadvilletribune.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/f4/3f4eeb62-9a9c-59b6-a27e-62e43df0dc9d/6792cbce45d55.pdf.pdf">letter</a> specifically asked Rubio to request an embassy representative visit Fogel, arrange medical visits, provide medication, engage with the Fogel family, and provide regular briefings to Congress on his case. 
Fogel’s sister, Anne, told The Daily Wire that while she is also hopeful, she is seriously concerned about Marc’s health. According to Anne, Fogel has faced serious back injuries and recently fell on the ice at the prison. 
“He fell on the ice and we are unsure how significant the injury was,” Anne said. “He’s not allowed to have a cane at the prison.”
In August, The Daily Wire reported that Fogel’s mental health took a hit after he was excluded from a prisoner swap with Russia.
“I cannot believe this,” Marc Fogel said on a call to his family, a recording of which was obtained by The Daily Wire. “I just don’t even want to get out of bed. I am shocked and sickened and out of breath and energy.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia for the last three years, said he &#8220;feels like&#8221; his &#8220;soul is dead&#8221; after he was excluded from last week&#8217;s prisoner swap.
We obtained a recording of his call with his family, reacting to the news that he won&#8217;t be going home: <a href="https://t.co/3JHlbJHHXN">pic.twitter.com/3JHlbJHHXN</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1820912489078350085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
Fogel told his family he felt “like a second-class citizen” when the Biden administration prioritized the release of high-profile prisoners like WNBA player Brittney Griner and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the latter of whom was included in the August swamp.
“I think that teachers have just been sh*t upon,” Fogel said. “It’s hard to have any faith,” Fogel said.
The Fogel family felt like they were abandoned by the Biden administration, which was scarce with communication and took years to recognize Fogel as wrongfully detained — a status that allows for the government to provide financial support for Fogel’s medical care and other needs.
“I am just trying to trust in the fact that President Trump talked with my mom and said he would get him out,” Anne said. “We are hanging on to that and we are very hopeful.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

IMG_3169

Mother Of Teacher Wrongfully Imprisoned In Russia Says Trump Gives Her Hope Of Reuniting With Son

Dave McCormick

Donald Trump

Prisoners

Russia

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/bob-casey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bob Casey</a> (D-PA) announced Thursday evening that he has conceded the Senate race to Republican Dave McCormick after contesting the results of the election for two weeks.
McCormick beat Casey by a narrow margin, just a little over 16,000 votes, according to the latest figures from the Associated Press. The margin was well within the 0.5% margin required to trigger an automatic recount.
&#8220;I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate,&#8221; Casey said in the statement. &#8220;As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last.&#8221;
&#8220;This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealth’s history, decided by less than a quarter of a point,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: “All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.”
Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime. <a href="https://t.co/RSXEFwdge8">pic.twitter.com/RSXEFwdge8</a>
— Bob Casey Jr. (@Bob_Casey) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bob_Casey/status/1859733833232662650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
McCormick&#8217;s victory in the state was one of several seats that Republicans flipped this cycle that gave the party a 53-47 majority in Congress&#8217; upper chamber for the 119th Congress.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Senator-elect McCormick thanked Casey for his &#8220;career to bettering our commonwealth.&#8221;
&#8220;Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day. Thank you!&#8221;

Sen. Bob Casey Campaigns For Reelection In Pennsylvania

Bob Casey Concedes Election To Dave McCormick

2024 Election

Bob Casey

Elections

Pennsylvania

Politics

Pennsylvania Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro, considered one of the favorites for the 2028 Democrat presidential nomination, took the side of a court that ruled against Democratic officials who defied state law — but condemned such actions by officials after the court’s ruling.
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that counties must reject undated and misdated ballots after Democrat election officials openly defied the order last week. The officials’ actions came as the recount of the race between Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick began. Casey would not concede after multiple outlets, including the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, called the race for McCormick.
Last week, Democrats in the Bucks County Office of Commissioners <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/people-violate-laws-any-time-they-want-dem-election-officials-state-willingness-to-defy-law-ahead-of-recount" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> their Republican colleague’s motion to stop “noncompliant” ballots from being counted. The Democrats’ move came after the commonwealth’s Supreme Court granted the GOP’s request to block the counting of mail ballots without dates.
Last Thursday, Gene DiGirolamo, the sole Republican on the three-person panel, introduced a motion to reject the attempt to count what the GOP <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/mccormick-campaign-sues-bucks-county-165814957.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> “noncompliant” ballots. In response, <a href="https://bucksdemocrats.org/who-we-are/our-elected-officials/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Democrat</a> Diane Marseglia, the chair of the commission, dismissed the proposal out of hand. “Not going to second that, mostly because I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter in this country and people violate laws any time they want,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So for me, if I violate this law it’s because I want the court to pay attention to it.”
“It is critical to the rule of law that individual counties and municipalities and their elected and appointed officials, like any other parties, obey orders of this Court,” Justice David Wecht wrote in a 4-3 decision, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4996749-pennsylvania-supreme-court-undated-mail-ballots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>. Casey’s campaign intervened to oppose the effort to stop undated mail ballots from being counted.
Shapiro issued no statement about the Democrat officials’ actions until the court ruled against his party. He blamed a “lack of clarity” due to “certain legislative actors refusing to act on critical election reforms” for the issue having to be resolved by the courts.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Only after the court’s decision did Shapiro write, “As we move forward, I want to be clear: any insinuation that our laws can be ignored or do not matter is irresponsible and does damage to faith in our electoral process. The rule of law matters in this Commonwealth, and as I have always said, it is critical for counties and officials in both parties to respect it with both their rhetoric and their actions.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovernorShapiro</a> weighs in: <a href="https://t.co/ctApXo71xN">pic.twitter.com/ctApXo71xN</a>
— Carter Walker (@ByCarterWalker) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByCarterWalker/status/1858627895247421802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Zach Jewell contributed to this article. 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-supreme-court-reiterates-that-undated-ballots-cannot-be-counted-after-dems-defy-order">Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Against Dems Who Defied Law, Won’t Allow Undated Ballots</a>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/people-violate-laws-any-time-they-want-dem-election-officials-state-willingness-to-defy-law-ahead-of-recount">&#8216;People Violate Laws Any Time They Want&#8217;: Dem Election Officials State Willingness To Defy Law Ahead Of Recount</a>

Clinton Global Initiative Takes Place In New York City

Josh Shapiro Condemns Election Officials Breaking Law — But Only After Court Rules Against Them

Josh Shapiro

Voting

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of Republicans again on Monday, reiterating that counties must reject undated and misdated ballots after Democrat election officials openly defied the order last week.
The order comes as Pennsylvania begins a recount of the race between Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick. Casey has yet to concede after multiple outlets, including the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, called the race for McCormick.
Last week, Democrats in the Bucks County Office of Commissioners <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/people-violate-laws-any-time-they-want-dem-election-officials-state-willingness-to-defy-law-ahead-of-recount" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> their Republican colleague&#8217;s motion to stop “noncompliant” ballots from being counted. The Democrats&#8217; move came after the commonwealth&#8217;s Supreme Court granted the GOP&#8217;s request to block the counting of mail ballots without dates.
Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, two of Pennsylvania&#8217;s most populous counties, also voted to count hundreds of undated ballots in recent days, The Hill reported. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, however, rebuked those counties&#8217; decisions and granted the GOP&#8217;s request that undated and misdated ballots be immediately excluded.
“It is critical to the rule of law that individual counties and municipalities and their elected and appointed officials, like any other parties, obey orders of this Court,” Justice David Wecht wrote in a 4-3 decision, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4996749-pennsylvania-supreme-court-undated-mail-ballots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>. Casey&#8217;s campaign intervened to oppose the effort to stop undated mail ballots from being counted.
The latest order from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court says that all election boards in the commonwealth “including the Boards of Elections in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County, SHALL COMPLY with the prior rulings of this Court in which we have clarified that mail-in and absentee ballots that fail to comply with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Election Code … SHALL NOT BE COUNTED for purposes of the election held on November 5, 2024.”
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley <a href="https://x.com/chairmanwhatley/status/1858612405380804949?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote,</a> &#8220;Following our latest RNC lawsuit, today the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yet again that undated ballots CANNOT BE COUNTED. No more excuses. Election officials in Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and other counties have absolutely no choice but to reject illegal ballots. We will hold them to it. Protect The Vote!&#8221;
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
McCormick defeated Casey by just over 17,000 votes, according to the AP, which is within the margin that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-senate-race-triggers-recount" target="_blank" rel="noopener">triggers</a> an automatic recount. The recount, which will cost Pennsylvanians over $1 million, could have been waived if Casey conceded defeat and opted to move on with the initial results. McCormick&#8217;s team remains confident that Casey has no path to victory.
&#8220;Senator-elect McCormick’s lead is insurmountable, which the AP made clear in calling the race,” McCormick spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory said in a statement. “A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative. Senator-elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion.”

Bucks County

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Against Dems Who Defied Law, Won’t Allow Undated Ballots

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reiterates That Undated Ballots Cannot Be Counted After Dems Defy Order

Senate

Pennsylvania Democrats are openly defying a judge&#8217;s orders ahead of a recount in the state&#8217;s senate race in what appears to be a last-ditch effort to deliver victory to incumbent Senator Bob Casey.
Casey has yet to concede to Republican Dave McCormick, who was winning by more than 26,000 votes as of Thursday, with 99% of the vote counted. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court <a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/pennsylvania-election-chief-asks-state-supreme-court-to-end-mail-ballot-uncertainty-before-election-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blocked</a> an effort to count mail-in ballots with incorrect or missing dates on the outer envelopes. But that hasn&#8217;t stopped Democrats in the Bucks County Office of Commissioners from pushing for exactly that.
On Thursday, Gene DiGirolamo, the sole Republican on the three-person panel, introduced a motion to reject the attempt to count what the GOP <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/mccormick-campaign-sues-bucks-county-165814957.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> “noncompliant” ballots. In response, <a href="https://bucksdemocrats.org/who-we-are/our-elected-officials/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Democrat</a> Diane Marseglia, the chair of the commission, dismissed the proposal out of hand.
“Not going to second that, mostly because I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter in this country and people violate laws any time they want,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So for me, if I violate this law it’s because I want the court to pay attention to it.”
“With all due respect, our law department’s goal is to stay out of any kind of court because they’re supposed to do that, but we might — some of us might want them to go to court on this,” Marseglia said in response.
“I think the law department’s advice has been consistent, at least since I’ve been here: to follow the current state of the law,” Bucks County Deputy Solicitor Daniel Grieser responded. “And I know that that’s changed in the last three years. But the current state of the law in this area is that these, y’know, unless it’s signed by the voter in two places, that we shouldn’t count these. That’s the current state of the law. And that’s been consistently our advice is to follow the law at the time.”
Marseglia and the second Democrat on the commission, Robert Harvie, voted to count the disqualified ballots.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
They also discussed how in 2020 they counted ballots that only had one signature, rather than two, which is now illegal. <a href="https://t.co/wkKuGfR3Ei">pic.twitter.com/wkKuGfR3Ei</a>
&mdash; Meg Brock (@MegEBrock) <a href="https://twitter.com/MegEBrock/status/1857145397950435569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<div>
&nbsp;
</div>
Republicans have <a href="https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2024/11/14/david-mccormick-bob-casey-senate-bucks-county-lawsuit-ballot-count-2024-election/76293859007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> a Bucks County Common Pleas judge to reverse the Bucks County Board of Commissioners decision. “The board’s baffling decision not to enforce the date requirement and to count noncompliant ballots thus directly contravenes binding Pennsylvania law,” the GOP’s appeal of the Board’s decision stated.
“As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, Casey received 48.53% of the vote with 3,359,086 votes and McCormick had 48.90% with 3,385,115,” CBS News <a href="//B5BC2102-431C-4457-8496-C0D2C629A8E3/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, adding, “Counties must begin the recount by Nov. 20, the announcement says. Counties must finish the recount by noon on Nov. 26 and report the results to the secretary of the commonwealth by Nov. 27 at 12 p.m.”
In Pennsylvania, a recount is triggered if a candidate wins by less than a 0.5% margin — but former election officials say a recount &#8220;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-recounts-winners-change-4d8a5000d49f48ee1361a1288cad3b99" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">might not change the outcome</a> by more than a few hundred votes,” the AP <a href="https://apnews.com/article/casey-mccormick-pennsylvania-senate-recount-f0da8720c540fc1b10328da37135a1ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“Senator-Elect McCormick&#8217;s lead is insurmountable, which the AP made clear in calling the race,” McCormick spokesperson Elizabeth Gregory stated. “A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money, but it is Senator Casey&#8217;s prerogative. Senator-Elect McCormick knows what it&#8217;s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion.”

US-VOTE-POLITIC

‘People Violate Laws Any Time They Want’: Dem Election Officials State Willingness To Defy Law Ahead Of Recount

Election Results

The close election between Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Republican Dave McCormick is heading for a recount automatically triggered by state law, election officials said on Wednesday.
Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pennsylvania-senate-race-triggers-recount-mccormick-projected-win-casey-yet-concede" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the fewer than 27,000-vote margin (0.39 percentage points) requires the state to conduct a recount. State law <a href="https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/newsroom/unofficial-results-in-u-s--senate-race-trigger-legally-required-.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requires</a> a recount if &#8220;vote totals [are] within the one-half of 1 percent.&#8221; Multiple outlets, including the Associated Press and Fox News, called the race for McCormick, giving Republicans 53 seats in the Senate, but Casey has refused to concede.
The recount must begin no later than November 20 and finish by noon on November 26, with results published on November 27. Election officials estimated the recount would cost Pennsylvania residents more than $1 million. Since 2004, four automatic recounts have been carried out in Pennsylvania — all of which affirmed the initial results, according to Fox News.
McCormick&#8217;s team remains confident that he will win the race, with spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory saying that Casey&#8217;s deficit is too much to overcome. With 99% of the ballots counted, McCormick holds 3,383,676 votes to Casey&#8217;s 3,357,191 votes.
&#8220;Senator-elect McCormick’s lead is insurmountable, which the AP made clear in calling the race,&#8221; Gregory said in a statement. &#8220;A recount will be a waste of time and taxpayer money but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative. Senator-elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and is sure Senator Casey will eventually reach the right conclusion.&#8221;
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) initially did not invite McCormick to the Senate orientation. However, after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schumer-caves-invites-mccormick-to-senate-orientation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressure</a> from his colleagues, the Democratic leader reached out to McCormick, and the Republican attended the orientation earlier this week.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
SPOTTED at Senate orientation <a href="https://t.co/4kTUn9Dv0b">pic.twitter.com/4kTUn9Dv0b</a>
&mdash; Senate Republicans (@NRSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NRSC/status/1856347489630027782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Casey, who has served three terms in the Senate, doubled down on waiting for all the ballots to be counted before conceding, saying in a video posted on Tuesday, &#8220;My priority has always been standing up for the people of Pennsylvania. Across our commonwealth, close to 7 million people cast their votes in a free and fair election. Our county election officials will finish counting those votes, just like they do in every election.&#8221;

Dave McCormick/Bob Casey

Pennsylvania Senate Race Triggers Recount

Congress

Recount

U.S. Senate

Dave McCormick is attending his first day of Senate orientation at Majority Leader Chuck Schumer&#8217;s (D-NY) invitation while his opponent, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), refuses to concede.
In a video posted to X on Tuesday, Casey said he is waiting for the remainder of the votes to be counted in his race, which the Associated Press called for McCormick late last week.
“Across our Commonwealth, close to 7 million people cast their votes in a free and fair election,” <a href="https://x.com/Bob_Casey/status/1856344372972863649">Casey said</a>. “Our county election officials will finish counting those votes just like they do in every election. The American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania and that process will play out.”
So far, 98% of votes have been counted, with McCormick leading 49% to Casey’s 48.5%.  As of Tuesday morning, McCormick is ahead by almost 35,000. Under Pennsylvania law, an automatic recount will be triggered if McCormick’s lead is 0.5% or less.
The AP called the race on Thursday after McCormick gained votes in blue districts and maintained a strong lead in red districts. Casey was winning Bucks County north of Philadelphia by less than half a point, despite winning it by 6 points in 2018, WGAL 8 <a href="https://www.wgal.com/article/casey-mccormick-where-does-pennsylvanias-us-senate-race-stand/62871061">reported</a>. 
Meanwhile, photos of McCormick’s appearance in the U.S. Capitol are making the rounds on social media.
In a photo posted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a smiling McCormick is seen holding a “Senator-elect” placard.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SPOTTED at Senate orientation <a href="https://t.co/4kTUn9Dv0b">pic.twitter.com/4kTUn9Dv0b</a>
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NRSC/status/1856347489630027782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
McCormick’s campaign communications director, Elizabeth Gregory, <a href="https://x.com/eliz_gregory/status/1856347262164627760">shared a picture to X</a> of McCormick walking through a Capitol hallway.
“I&#8217;m excited to be here, glad I&#8217;ve been invited to the orientation and get to work for bringing about the change that the people of our great Commonwealth Pennsylvania have &#8230; excited to get to work,” <a href="https://x.com/ChadPergram/status/1856346943603061041">McCormick said</a> upon his arrival to Fox News.
Schumer initially did not invite McCormick or Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)  to the new Senator orientation, but had a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schumer-caves-invites-mccormick-to-senate-orientation">change of heart</a> after pressure from colleagues, Semafor <a href="https://x.com/burgessev/status/1856317748948639840?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">reported</a>.
“Ruben Gallego and David McCormick have been invited to attend orientation,” a Schumer spokesman said Tuesday.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) called for both Gallego and McCormick to receive invitations, pointing out that it took 6 days for her 2018 race to be counted. 
“I jumped on a redeye to DC to make senate orientation-I learned so much &amp; made lasting relationships that week,” <a href="https://x.com/kyrstensinema/status/1855753841439813977">Sinema tweeted</a>. “Dave McCormick &amp; Ruben Gallego will be Senators for PA &amp; AZ. They should be invited to orientation &amp; start learning the job.”
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) echoed Sinema on X.
“While we are losing a good person and colleague in Senator Bob Casey, I believe the Senate will be gaining another good man in Senator-Elect David McCormick,” <a href="https://x.com/Sen_JoeManchin/status/1855687165226705344">he wrote</a>.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1855713897690583215">said</a> some senators were planning to “personally escort McCormick into the building if necessary” before McCormick was given the invitation.
McCormick filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Philadelphia Board of Election and three city commissioners over provisional ballots. McCormick’s case seeks to challenge provisional ballots submitted by mail but were deemed invalid, in order to have the ballots sequestered until “further action is taken by the United States Supreme Court,” <a href="https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-senate-david-mccormick-bob-casey-lawsuit/">according to WHYY</a>.

Bob Casey Refuses To Concede As Dave McCormick Begins Senate Orientation

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has invited Pennsylvania Republican Senator-elect Dave McCormick to the Senate orientation despite Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) holding out on a concession.
On Thursday, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-senate-2024-election-david-mccormick-casey-866a8712dea0b52b5d8d6b4844968b53" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected</a> that McCormick would win the race over Casey, but Democrats have refused to concede as ballots are still being processed. McCormick leads Casey by more than 35,000 votes, with 99% of the ballots counted. Schumer initially did not send invitations for Senate orientation to McCormick or Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego, but after pressure from colleagues, Schumer changed his mind, POLITICO <a href="https://x.com/burgessev/status/1856317748948639840?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;Ruben Gallego and David McCormick have been invited to attend orientation,&#8221; a spokesman for Schumer said on Tuesday.
Multiple outlets have yet to declare a winner in the Pennsylvania race, and Casey, a three-term senator, is still telling voters he is waiting for more ballots to be counted.
&#8220;Our Commonwealth ran a free and fair election, and we are still waiting on the final results,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/Bob_Casey/status/1856063317741117611" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Monday. &#8220;Our election officials will continue counting ballots and ensure that Pennsylvanians’ voices are heard.&#8221;
Multiple senators, however, urged Schumer to extend the invitations to McCormick and Gallego. Outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) <a href="https://x.com/kyrstensinema/status/1855753841439813977" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X on Sunday, &#8220;In 2018 my race wasn’t called for 6 days. I jumped on a redeye to DC to make senate orientation-I learned so much &amp; made lasting relationships that week. Dave McCormick &amp; Ruben Gallego will be Senators for PA &amp; AZ. They should be invited to orientation &amp; start learning the job.&#8221;
Some Republican senators <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1855713897690583215" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they would &#8220;personally escort McCormick into the building&#8221; if Schumer didn&#8217;t extend an invitation. &#8220;It’s an absolute outrage that Schumer is trying to exclude @DaveMcCormickPA from new-senator orientation,&#8221; Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) posted on X on Sunday.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Schumer was also pushed by moderate Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) to send an invitation to McCormick, The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4985518-schumer-mccormick-gallego-senate-orientation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
With McCormick&#8217;s win, Republicans will hold 53 seats in the new Senate, giving President-elect Donald Trump a comfortable Republican majority as he begins his second term on January 20. Republicans are also projected to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-projected-to-win-house-complete-2024-sweep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">keep their control</a> of the House.

Schumer Caves, Invites McCormick To Senate Orientation

Chuck Schumer

The Wall Street Journal took Democrats to task on Sunday, accusing them of &#8220;election denial&#8221; for refusing to concede the Pennsylvania Senate race.
Dave McCormick, the Republican challenger, is currently <a href="https://decisiondeskhq.com/results/2024/General/US-Senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading</a> in Pennsylvania by less than 40,000 votes with more than 95% of votes counted. The Associated Press projected McCormick as the winner on Thursday.
Nevertheless, Democratic Senator Bob Casey, who is seeking a fourth term, has refused to concede.
Only 87,000 provisional ballots are left to count. Provisional ballots are those with some legal hangup, such as mail ballot issues or voter registration questions.
As the race stands now, Casey seems unlikely to pull ahead.
The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh counties have about 30,000 provisional ballots left to count, and the rest come from other parts of the state where McCormick was more successful. So far, Casey has won the around 7,700 provisional ballots counted so far by about 54% to 46%. Even if he maintains this margin, he will not come out ahead of McCormick, the Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-for-election-denial-pennsylvania-mccormick-casey-elias-1a1c5bdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed</a> out.
However, Democrats may be gunning for an automatic recount.
Right now, McCormick&#8217;s margin of victory stands around .06%, but if it falls below 0.5%, it would trigger an automatic recount under state law.
If a recount happens, Marc Elias, an elections lawyer for the Democratic Party, may try to challenge certain ballots cast for McCormick or even search for more ballots cast for Casey, the Journal predicted.
Elias has managed to do this before.
In the 2008 Minnesota Senate race, Elias convinced a judge to count previously rejected ballots for Al Franken and overturn the lead of the Republican challenger.
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer showed his hand when he <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/10/schumer-casey-mccormick-senate-orientation-00188644" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barred</a> McCormick from attending Senate orientation this week, indicating he does not yet consider McCormick the winner.
The move triggered outrage from Republican senators.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;What happened to all the demands that our leaders accept the outcome of the elections?&#8221; Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) posted Sunday on social media.
&#8220;The idea that Schumer would not allow him to participate in Senate orientation is beyond unacceptable,” Senator John Thune (R-SD), the Senate minority whip, posted Sunday.
“The voters of Pennsylvania have spoken. Looking forward to having Dave’s strong voice in the Senate Republican Conference,” Thune said.
Thune is in the running for Senate Majority Leader, along with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Republicans plan to vote Wednesday on who will take over that role in January.
The Journal said it would &#8220;await the outraged editorials denouncing this threat to democracy.&#8221;
&#8220;Did someone say &#8216;election denial?'&#8221; the paper said.
“Mathematically, there’s no path for Senator Casey to win,” McCormick said Sunday on Fox News, adding, “Ultimately, Senator Casey’s going to have to decide when he’s willing to acknowledge that.”

Barack Obama Attends Campaign Rally For Pennsylvania Democrats In Philadelphia

WSJ Editorial Board Accuses Dems Of ‘Election Denial’

WSJ Editorial Board Accuses Dems Of 'Election Denial' 

Democrats

Wall Street Journal

Republican businessman Dave McCormick won the U.S. Senate race in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a>, the Associated Press <a href="https://x.com/AP_Politics/status/1854632437189427499">said</a> Thursday.
McCormick <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mccormick-declares-victory-in-pennsylvania-pressure-mounts-for-casey-to-concede">declared victory</a> early Thursday, though Casey had yet to concede and the race had not been called. With 99% of the vote counted, McCormick led Casey by around 30,000 votes. The AP call came after Republican Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and John Thune (R-SD) called on Casey to concede.
&#8220;Any way you slice it, Dave McCormick will be the next United States Senator from Pennsylvania,” McCormick communications director Elizabeth Gregory said.
Pennsylvania was the first state in history to be inundated with more than a billion dollars in political ads during a campaign cycle. McCormick had recently surged in the polls, saying that Pennsylvanians “can see now it’s between a seventh-generation Pennsylvanian, an outsider, a business guy, someone who went to West Point and served in combat, versus a guy who’s been in elected office for 30 years and has been weak in a 99% vote for these liberal policies.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
In recent weeks, Casey had attempted to tie himself to former President Donald Trump, dropping a campaign ad that says “Casey bucked Biden to protect fracking and he sided with Trump to end NAFTA and put tariffs on China to stop them from cheating.”
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.

Dave McCormick Wins Pennsylvania Senate Race

Republican businessman Dave McCormick on Thursday declared victory in the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania against his opponent, incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).
With 99% of the votes counted, McCormick was up on the three-term Democrat by more than 30,000 votes following President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s victory in the state.
&#8220;McCormick is up 30,679 votes with more to come, as ruby red Cambria County is still outstanding,&#8221; said Elizabeth Gregory, McCormick&#8217;s communications director.
&#8220;While votes continue to be counted, any way you slice it, Dave McCormick will be the next United States Senator from Pennsylvania,&#8221; she added.
Casey has faced growing calls from Republican senators to concede the race since he does not appear to have a shot at overtaking McCormick in the vote count.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) told CNBC on Thursday that he believes the seat in Pennsylvania was a done deal for Republicans and that it was time for Casey to concede.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We’re still closely monitoring several races—we’re confident <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveMcCormickPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaveMcCormickPA</a> has won in Pennsylvania, and the race will be called. Sen. Casey should concede. <a href="https://t.co/OdPEGq0cM5">pic.twitter.com/OdPEGq0cM5</a>
— John Thune (@johnthune) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnthune/status/1854545621387981168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) called for Casey to concede in a post on X: &#8220;Senator Bob Casey should concede to senator-elect Dave McCormick.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Senator Bob Casey should concede to senator-elect Dave McCormick.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/1854562488097861762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) also posted on X that it was time for Casey to concede: &#8220;Bob Casey’s campaign website says he ran to &#8216;protect our democracy.'&#8221;
&#8220;Now’s his chance by honoring the will of Pennsylvania voters,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He lost. He knows he lost. He needs to concede to Senator-elect McCormick.&#8221;

Voters Attend Watch Parties During 2024 US Presidential Election

McCormick Declares Victory In Pennsylvania; Pressure Mounts For Casey To Concede

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick made his final pitch to undecided voters in the gymnasium of his old high school Sunday night.
McCormick touted himself as a candidate who will bring more positive change to the Senate than his opponent, longtime Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who was first elected in 2007.
&#8220;This is a race between change and the status quo. I represent change. I&#8217;m a seventh-generation Pennsylvanian, West Point grad, combat vet, businessman, political outsider,” McCormick said. “I&#8217;m going there for the sole purpose of shaking things up and getting America back on track.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I met up with <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveMcCormickPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaveMcCormickPA</a> who gave his final pitch for why undecided Pennsylvania voters should elect him to the U.S. Senate.
Reporting for <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a>: <a href="https://t.co/5XZRj73a61">pic.twitter.com/5XZRj73a61</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1853541241918804349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
The businessman also pushed back on Casey’s attempt to position himself as a moderate.
“If you look at his voting record, he’s voted 99 percent of the time with this extreme liberal agenda, including voting for males being able to compete in women’s sports,” McCormick said. “These positions may be in line with San Francisco liberal extremism, but they’re not in line with Pennsylvania.”
McCormick added that, if he wins, he would limit himself to just two terms.
&#8220;Bob Casey is a 30-year career politician &#8230; he&#8217;s the son of a high-profile governor, and he&#8217;s lived off his father&#8217;s name. &#8230; And he&#8217;s voted on these extreme liberal policies that are simply out of step with Pennsylvania,” McCormick said.
McCormick, whose wife, Dina Powell, served as the deputy national security advisor for strategy under Donald Trump, slammed Mark Cuban for claiming that Trump does not surround himself with intelligent, strong women.
“For him to say that is factually not true, because President Trump had many strong women around him,” McCormick said. “It’s also just an insult to every woman in America.”
McCormick narrowly lost Pennsylvania’s last Republican senate primary to Mehmet Oz, who went on to lose to Sen. John Fetterman.

Menu