Nearly a month after the May 17 primary, two key races finally were called. Dave McCormick, contender for the GOP nomination for the US Senate race, conceded to his opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz a few days into the recount ordered by Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman. In a statement, McCormick said, “It’s now clear to me, with the recount largely complete, that we have a nominee. And today, I called Mehmet Oz to congratulate him on his victory.” Oz, in turn, thanked McCormick for a concession call he characterized as “gracious” and looked forward to taking on the Democratic nominee (and sitting lieutenant governor) John Fetterman, who is recovering from a pacemaker insertion and a stroke he suffered the weekend prior to the primary election. Acting Secretary Chapman made it official on June 8, certifying the recount confirmed Oz as the winner by a mere 951 votes, out of more than 1.3 million total votes cast.

Lt. Gov. Fetterman’s campaign and his wife, Second Lady Gisele Fetterman, provided an update on his condition this past week, saying she hoped he could be cleared to return to the campaign trail by July. A statement from his cardiologist noted he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and decreased heart function in 2017. In another statement, Fetterman said, “the stroke I suffered on May 13 didn’t come out of nowhere. Like so many others, and so many men in particular, I avoided going to the doctor, even though I knew I didn’t feel well. As a result, I almost died. I want to encourage others to not make the same mistake.” The PA Chamber wishes the Lieutenant Governor a speedy and full recovery.

Meanwhile, Senator Pat Browne of Lehigh County (and current Majority Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee) officially conceded to his primary challenger, airline pilot and school board member Jarrett Coleman, on June 6. Coleman’s unofficial lead was a mere 19 votes, but was enough to end Senator Browne’s distinguished 28-year career in Harrisburg.

In his concession statement, Sen. Browne pledged the loss wouldn’t distract from his work this budget season, noting that “I look forward to finishing my service by delivering a budget for the commonwealth this year, in transition to a new administration, which places Pennsylvania in its strongest financial position in decades.”