(The Center Square) – Bob Casey Jr. is finally ready to say goodbye.

Seventeen days after the polls closed, the two-term Democratic senator called Republican challenger Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his win.

“As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last,” he said in a video posted on X.

The concession comes after 16 of 67 counties finished recounting ballots cast, with results showing Casey falling even further behind.

Of 702,000 ballots tallied again, McCormick, who declared victory three days after the election, increased his lead by seven votes.

The close margin – less than 17,000 ballots or 0.2% – triggered an automatic recount last week, to which Casey could have objected. Counties have until Tuesday to finish the job.

Elizabeth Gregory, spokeswoman for McCormick, said in a release “there’s only five more days until the obvious happens.”

“Another day closer to this waste of time and money being over,” she said. “We all know how this will end. We’ll be there in five days.”

The campaign had maintained there were not enough votes left in the state to overcome the gap. Chief strategist Mark Harris said Casey’s decision to opt for the recount, estimated to cost $1 million, won’t change things.

The Associated Press, reached the same conclusion on Nov. 7 when declaring the former hedge fund CEO turned Republican nominee the winner. The flip padded the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to 53-47 and ended the Casey family’s six-decade presence in state and national political office.

“During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: ‘All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor,’” Casey said. “Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime.”