Pennsylvania announces recount of Senate GOP primary race between Dr. Oz, Dave McCormick

Pennsylvania’s Republican Senate primary race between Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick will head to a recount, the state’s elections chief announced Wednesday.

Oz, a celebrity physician and first-time candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, led former hedge fund CEO McCormick in the final vote tally by less than half a percentage point, acting Secretary of of State Leigh Chapman’s office said.

That narrow margin triggered a mandatory recount under Pennsylvania law.

The recount is estimated to cost more than $1 million in taxpayer funds, Chapman’s office said. Pennsylvania counties must begin recounting ballots by no later than June 1, and they must finish their recounts by June 7 at noon ET.

The announcement came more than a week after the primary election. The Pennsylvania Department of State attributed the lag to the fact that the state’s laws do not permit “pre-canvassing” of ballots prior to Election Day. That means counties could only start counting mail ballots on the morning of the election, Chapman’s office explained last Tuesday.