'Absolute lawlessness': GOP blasts Pa. Dems' recount effort in Casey Senate loss

The Republican Party blasted Democrats on Monday for their refusal to concede the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania, taking aim at three-term incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey for moving ahead with a costly recount effort, one they argue is a "blatant" violation of state law.

The recount in the state comes after The Associated Press declared the race for Republican candidate David McCormick, who narrowly edged out Casey, a Democrat.

McCormick's unofficial margin of victory stands at roughly 26,000 votes, or within the 0.5% threshold required under Pennsylvania law to trigger an automatic recount.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced last week that the state would proceed with the recount, noting that counties across the Keystone State had reported a total of some 80,000 uncounted provisional, mail-in or absentee ballots.

The recount began Monday and will continue through Nov. 26, Schmidt said.