Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and his Republican challenger David McCormick are the only candidates that will appear on the Pennsylvania Senate ballot, the state’s highest court ruled Friday.
The ruling boots several other challengers from appearing on the ticket and was a successful challenge to having the relatively unknown candidates appear on the primary ticket next month, The Associated Press reported.
The decision all but guarantees primary victories for Casey and McCormick in the April 23 primary.
Casey, the incumbent who has served in his Senate seat since 2007, led McCormick in the polls earlier this year by a comfortable margin. McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO, previously ran for Senate in 2022 but lost the Republican nomination to Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Casey has an advantage in name recognition, with 30 percent of a survey’s respondents saying they had not heard of McCormick.
The race between the two is likely going to be one of the most expensive and closely watched races this year, as Democrats attempt to defend their majority in the Senate, the AP reported.
Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, will help determine if Democrats hold control of the Senate and reelect President Biden.
Joe Vodvarka, a Republican candidate, had been booted from the ballot after a lower court in the state found that he did not have enough voter signatures to qualify. The state Supreme Court rejected Vodvarka’s appeal.
Earlier this month, courts granted challenges to the paperwork of two other candidates who filed to be on the primary ballot. Brandi Tomasetti, a Republican, and William Parker, a Democrat, were ordered off the ballot, the AP noted.
According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, Casey leads McCormick in a March 13 poll. Casey has 44.8 percent support, while his challenger has 41 percent. About 14 percent of respondents are undecided.