Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has extended orientation invitations to Senators-elect Dave McCormick and Ruben Gallego, despite ongoing electoral uncertainties in their respective races.
At a Glance
- Schumer initially hesitated to invite McCormick due to unresolved Pennsylvania race
- McCormick leads incumbent Bob Casey by approximately 35,000 votes
- Gallego’s race against Kari Lake in Arizona remains undecided
- Republican senators criticized Schumer’s initial decision to exclude McCormick
- Orientation invitations mark acceptance of current standings
Schumer’s Initial Hesitation and Subsequent Invitation
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer initially refused to allow Senator-elect Dave McCormick to participate in Senate orientation due to the unresolved race in Pennsylvania. This decision sparked criticism from Republican senators, who viewed it as inconsistent with demands for accepting election outcomes.
He finally caved…and accepted the result of the election.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) initially voiced his disapproval, stating, “Schumer is not allowing @DaveMcCormickPA to participate in Senate orientation this week because Casey refuses to concede the race. What happened to all the demands that our leaders accept the outcome of the elections?”
Some Democrats defended Schumer’s decision, citing 100,000 uncounted votes – but those votes would never have changed the result.
Republicans are hopping mad that Sen.-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA) is not invited to the freshman orientation – yet.
Schumer spokesman on the race between McCormick and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) – who has not conceded.
“With over 100,000 ballots left to be counted in Pennsylvania,…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) November 10, 2024
Republican Response and Criticism
Republican senators, including those vying for the majority leader position, strongly criticized Schumer’s initial decision to exclude McCormick from orientation. Senator John Thune expressed his disapproval, stating, “The idea that Schumer would not allow him to participate in Senate orientation is beyond unacceptable. The voters of Pennsylvania have spoken. Looking forward to having Dave’s strong voice in the Senate Republican Conference.”
Some Republican senators, led by Mike Lee, even offered to escort McCormick to the orientation in defiance of Schumer’s initial stance. This pressure from the Republican side likely contributed to Schumer’s eventual decision to extend invitations to both McCormick and Gallego.
Despite the initial controversy, Schumer ultimately decided to invite both McCormick and Gallego to the new-senator orientation. A spokesperson for Schumer confirmed, “Ruben Gallego and David McCormick have been invited to attend orientation.”
