Schumer isn’t happy he’s about to lose his job as Senate Majority Leader. Everything he’s worked hard for has come crumbling down.
And to make matters worse this new Republican senator has smacked Chuck Schumer in a stunning confrontation.
Senator-elect Dave McCormick is set to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for Senate freshman orientation, though his arrival is shadowed by controversy.
According to a source close to the matter, McCormick’s visit comes even as Democratic leaders have yet to acknowledge him as Pennsylvania’s next senator, given the ongoing ballot counting in his race against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has withheld an invitation to McCormick for the sessions typically attended by all incoming senators. Schumer pointed out that around 100,000 ballots remain uncounted in Pennsylvania’s race.
“As is custom, we will invite the winner once the votes are counted,” Schumer stated on Sunday.
Despite this, McCormick has allies among GOP senators. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Mike Lee (R-UT) intend to bring McCormick into the Senate building, planning to escort him to orientation. It’s still unclear how Schumer may respond to his presence if McCormick arrives uninvited.
Democrats, meanwhile, remain hopeful that Casey could still pull off a narrow win, particularly as tens of thousands of provisional ballots are yet to be tallied. At present, McCormick leads by nearly 40,000 votes.
The decision to keep McCormick from the orientation has stirred frustration among Senate Republicans, who argue that McCormick is being unfairly sidelined.
The Associated Press declared McCormick the victor in the race three days ago, marking one of the most unexpected outcomes of the 2024 election cycle.
“Dave McCormick is the new senator for Pennsylvania. The idea that Schumer would not allow him to participate in Senate orientation is beyond unacceptable,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) posted on X.
https://x.com/SenJohnThune/status/1855686573355860266
The Casey campaign remains optimistic, citing favorable provisional ballot numbers in key counties that might narrow McCormick’s lead.
However, McCormick’s team argues that Casey has no realistic path to win. The election dispute has also seen action in the courts, with McCormick filing a suit to challenge certain provisional ballots.
Should the vote count remain tight, under half a percentage point, a recount may be triggered.
In contrast to the Senate’s approach, the House traditionally invites both candidates to orientation if a race remains undecided.
Schumer has also not extended an invitation to Ruben Gallego, who currently leads Arizona’s uncalled Senate race.
The House will hold its freshman orientation next week, even with some races yet to be finalized. As of now, Republicans are projected to keep control of the House, and McCormick’s potential win would give the GOP a 53-seat Senate majority.
And most importantly, Chuck Schumer will no longer be the Senate Majority Leader.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
