PARIS, April 16 — The state’s top court ruled Friday that only Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick can be on the ballots for the office in Pennsylvania’s April primary.
The decision was the third time that a court successfully questioned the paperwork of three relatively unknown candidates. Casey and McCormick are now almost certain to win their party primary votes on April 23 without any competition.
Casey vs. McCormick’s race in November is likely to be one of the most expensive and carefully watched in the country. This is because Democrats have a tough Senate map in 2024, having to defend incumbents in red states and a number of swing states.
- California RESIDENTS To RECEIVE $500 MONTHLY PAYMENTS In New Guaranteed Income Program: Here Is Who Is Eligible
- Us Job Market Booms With 272,000 New Jobs, But Unemployment Rises Slightly To 4.0%
- Credit Scores Of 720+ See Improved Loan Rates This Week
- Examining The Facts: Fact Check On IRS $8700 Stimulus Check Eligibility & Payment Dates
- Gas Prices On Downward Trend As Fourth Of July Road Trips Approach: AAA
McCormick is running against Casey for a fourth term. McCormick is a former CEO of a hedge fund and is backed by the state Republican Party. He almost lost the GOP primary in 2022 to Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Pennsylvania, a presidential swing state, will be very important for Democrats to keep the White House and the Senate. If Casey loses, Republicans will almost certainly take control of the Senate, which is currently very close.
A lower court had taken Republican candidate Joe Vodvarka off the primary ballots because he did not have enough voter signatures to be eligible. Vodvarka’s appeal to the state Supreme Court was turned down.
Vodvarka made an appeal and said that he should be put on the primary ballots because the Republican voters who had questioned his petitions had not told the state elections office about their court challenge, which is what the law says they should do. In its two-line order, the state Supreme Court did not say why it made the choice it did.
Earlier in March, courts had already thrown out the paperwork of two other candidates for the U.S. Senate primary election.
A Republican from Lancaster County named Brandi Tomasetti and a Democrat from Allegheny County named William Parker were both told they could not be on the ballots.