For much of the campaign, the Pennsylvania GOP primary was focused on Oz and McCormick, with conservative commentator Kathy Barnette increasing in polls in the closing days of the race. However, Oz and McCormick did end up in a close contest, split by less than 1,000 votes and well within the state's margins for a required recount. The concession sets up a general election matchup between Oz and Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who made headlines Friday because of his health.
“You put your trust in us, your faith in us, and it's a friendship that we’ll be blessed to have for the rest of our lives. And we came so close. We came so close, by the slimmest of margins, on election night,” McCormick told supporters Friday evening. “We spent the last 17 days making sure that every Republican vote was counted in a way that would result in the will of Pennsylvania voters to be fulfilled. Because that's what it's all about. That's what this process is all about.”
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“But it’s not clear to me. With the recount largely complete, I bet we have a nominee. And today, I called Mehmet Oz to congratulate him on his victory,” he added. “And I told him what I always said to you: that I will do my part to try to unite Republicans and Pennsylvanians behind his candidacy [and] behind his nomination for the Senate.”
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The original totals showed Oz, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, leading McCormick by less than 1,000 votes out of more than 1.3 million votes cast in the seven-person GOP primary, or about 0.1 percentage point. Pennsylvania administers mandatory recounts when the top two candidates are separated by half a percentage point or less unless the candidates waive that right. McCormick's campaign pursued the recount.
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McCormick stressed he would put his full back behind Oz as he heads into the general election, urging Republicans to band together to ensure victory against the Democratic Party.
"I received a gracious phone call from David McCormick and am tremendously grateful for his pledge of support in the fall election. We share the goal of a brighter future for Pennsylvania & America," Oz tweeted Friday. "Now that our primary is over, we will make sure that this U.S. Senate seat does not fall into the hands of the radical left, led by John Fetterman. I look forward to campaigning in every corner of the Commonwealth for the next five months to earn the support of every Pennsylvanian."
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