A Democratic election official in Pennsylvania offered an impassioned apology Wednesday for claiming “precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country” to justify counting about 600 faulty ballots in defiance of state Supreme Court rulings.

Democratic-majority election boards in Montgomery, Philadelphia, and Bucks counties voted last week to count the ballots that lacked a correct date.

Bucks County has been at the center of controversy since a commissioner said she willingly decided to ignore a court directive to disqualify certain ballots.

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey conceded the race to Republican Dave McCormick more than two weeks after Election Day.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey called Republican David McCormick to concede in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate election. The move comes after the race was too close to call and triggered an automatic recount.

Incumbent Sen. Bob Casey on Thursday conceded in the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania to Republican challenger Dave McCormick. In an email from his campaign, Casey, a Democrat, said he called McCormick to congratulate him on his win in the race.

Senator Bob Casey has conceded to his Republican opponent, David McCormick, in a Pennsylvania race that was so close that it triggered a recount.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey has conceded to Republican Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate election after a close race triggered an automatic recount.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia apologized for claiming court precedent "doesn't matter" in relation to provisional ballots.

A recount had been triggered in the Pennsylvania Senate race as the initial result was within 0.5 percentage points.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered blows in court in its effort to get favorable ballots counted.