By MARC LEVY (Associated Press)
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick will be the only options on the ballots for the Pennsylvania April primary following a decision on Friday by the state's highest court.
The ruling marked the final victory in a series of court challenges to the paperwork of three relatively unknown candidates, ensuring that Casey and McCormick will likely have no competitors in their respective party primary elections on April 23.
The November election between Casey and McCormick is anticipated to be highly costly and closely watched, especially in a year when Democrats face challenges defending incumbents in red states and swing states.
Casey, seeking a fourth term, will face McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO endorsed by the state Republican Party, who narrowly lost the 2022 GOP primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Pennsylvania, a pivotal state in presidential elections, will play a crucial role in determining whether Democrats can retain control of the White House and the Senate. A loss for Casey would likely result in Republican control of a Senate that is currently divided by a narrow margin.
The state Supreme Court dismissed an appeal from a Republican candidate, Joe Vodvarka, who had been instructed to be removed from the primary ballots by a lower court due to insufficient voter signatures.
Vodvarka contended that he should be included on the primary ballots because the Republican voters who challenged his petitions did not notify the state elections office of their legal challenge, as required by law. The state Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its decision in its brief order.
Earlier in March, courts had also approved challenges to the paperwork of two other candidates seeking U.S. Senate primary ballot placement.
Both Brandi Tomasetti, a Republican from Lancaster County, and William Parker, a Democrat from Allegheny County, were removed from the ballots.
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