GOP flips another Senate seat, cementing chamber majority

Republican candidate Dave McCormick won a Pennsylvania seat in the U.S. Senate with 49% of the vote, the Associated Press said Thursday afternoon. McCormick’s win unseats incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey who garnered 48.5% of the vote, losing the race by a 0.5% margin. McCormick is one of several GOP challengers who successfully unseated Democratic incumbents.

What other Senate seats were flipped? GOP candidate Tim Sheehy unseated Montana’s incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester with over 52% of the vote, the Associated Press said Wednesday afternoon. Tester was running for a fourth term and garnered about 45% of the vote. His loss strengthened the state’s political shift from purple to red and cemented the GOP majority in the upper chamber. Sheehy thanked voters for their support in a Wednesday social media post, promising to fight for them in the Senate. When one’s country calls, one must answer, he said. Senators-elect Jim Justice and Bernie Moreno also gained seats for the GOP in West Virginia and Ohio earlier this week.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report for more on the Senate flipping red.