Republicans widen Senate majority after Democrat concedes Pennsylvania race

(Reuters) -Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania on Thursday conceded the final outstanding Senate race of the 2024 U.S. election to his Republican opponent, widening the majority for President-elect Donald Trump's party in the upper chamber of Congress.

The Republicans will hold 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber next year.

With control of the Senate, Republicans will be in a position to confirm Trump's personnel and judicial appointments, though they will still be short of the 60 votes needed to quickly advance most legislation.

After a recount was called, Casey on Thursday said that he was conceding to Republican Dave McCormick.

"This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealth's history, decided by less than a quarter of a point," Casey said in a video posted on X.

In the House, Republicans hold a slender majority over Democrats.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Rami Ayyub)