Republican candidate for Pennsylvania Senate Dave McCormick was declared victorious Tuesday in his high-stakes election against longtime Democrat Sen. Bob Casey.

Casey’s campaign released a statement Thursday afternoon saying he would not concede until all votes are counted.

“As Pennsylvania’s secretary of state said this afternoon, there are tens of thousands of ballots remaining to be counted across the Commonwealth, including provisional ballots, military and overseas ballots, and mail-in ballots,” said Maddy McDaniel, spokesperson for Casey’s campaign. in a statement. “This race is within a half-point and cannot be called while the votes of thousands of Pennsylvanians are still being counted. We will ensure that every Pennsylvanian’s voice is heard.”

Casey has served in the Senate since 2008 and eventually became a fixture in the Democratic Party. For example, according to data from FiveThirtyEight, he voted on legislation that President Biden supported 98.5% of the time.

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Sens. Bob Casey, left, and Dave McCormick (Getty Images)

The Casey name also has deep roots in the state, with Bob Casey Sr., the senator’s father, serving as Keystone State governor from 1987 to 1995 after serving for years in various other elected positions.

However, the longtime senator faced what was described as his toughest re-election bid yet, pitting him against Republican businessman Dave McCormick.

McCormick is an Army veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, who served under former President George W. Bush’s administration as undersecretary of commerce for industry and security and as undersecretary of the Treasury for international affairs.

Political eyes are on Pennsylvania this election cycle after it re-emerged as a key battleground for the presidential race. Trump narrowly won the state in his successful 2016 election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while President Biden declared victory in the Keystone State in the 2020 election.

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The race was rated “leans Democrat” by both. Fox News power rankings and the Cook Political Report, in which Casey himself acknowledged this year that it would be a “close and tough fight.”

Former President Obama is shown with Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., left, and then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Sept. 21, 2018. (Getty Images/Mark Makela)

Biden campaigned for Casey in their shared home state, with the president praising the senator as “a man kids can look up to.” Across the aisle, McCormick earned Trump’s support in the Keystone State.

“He’s a good man. He wants to run a good ship,” Trump said at a rally in April. ‘He’s a smart guy. He was a very successful guy. He gave up a lot for it.’

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The two have spoken in their campaigns and during their debates about issues such as immigration, abortion, rising inflation and law enforcement.

GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick is interviewed during a tour of the Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas on May 10, 2022 in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

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Casey campaigned on a platform of protecting abortion access, reducing “greed inflation,” preserving Pennsylvania’s “energy legacy” while “protecting our environment” and strengthening infrastructure in rural areas.

McCormick campaigned on reducing inflation under the Biden-Harris administration, securing the border, curbing crime, defending the Second Amendment and expanding the Keystone State’s energy sector.

The high-stakes election put both candidates under the national spotlight, including earlier this year when state police leaders criticized Casey for joining a pro-defund the police group as he prepared for the election. He was also criticized by McCormick and other conservatives for rhetoric blaming rising inflation on perceived corporate greed, which he calls “greed inflation.”

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McCormick came under fire from Casey and Democrats for splitting his time between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where his children go to school, and portraying him as an outsider to the Keystone State.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on our Fox News Digital election hub.