Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick on Thursday appeared to declare victory in his race against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey Jr. despite The Associated Press not having called the race and the possibility that the narrow margin triggers Pennsylvania’s automatic recount process.

McCormick’s projected victory marks a pivotal moment for the Republican Party, solidifying their gains in what was one of the nation’s most expensive Senate races and giving them a significant foothold in Pennsylvania, a state that has long been a key battleground in national elections.