Trump-backed Dr. Oz, McCormick locked in tight PA GOP Senate primary likely going to recount

Trump-backed Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dr. Oz is locked in a thrilling race with hedge fund CEO Dave McCormick that's likely headed for a recount due to a razor thin margin on Tuesday evening.

McCormick, a veteran, has 31.2% of the vote, compared to 31.2% for Dr. Oz, with 94% of the votes counted, according to the Associated Press.

A margin of 0.5% or less triggers an automatic recount in Pennsylvania. 

"Unfortunately we're not going to have a resolution tonight," McCormick told his supporters, pointing out that thousands of absentee ballots still need to be counted. 

Oz, a celebrity talk show host, was endorsed in April by former President Trump. In his speech to supporters late on Tuesday night, Oz thanked Trump for making robocalls on his behalf and holding a rally. He also thanked Fox News Host Sean Hannity for his advice during the course of the campaign. 

Kathy Barnette, a veteran, political commentator and former adjunct professor, had 24.8% of the vote just before midnight.

A problem in Lancaster County was reported that impacted more than 20,000 absentee ballots and that could further delay the final results.

While the Pennsylvania Senate race was still undecided, Trump's endorsed candidates won in other contests.

Rep. Ted Budd, who received a Trump endorsement, won the North Carolina GOP Senate primary on Tuesday night. 

"I think he brings Oz across the finish line tonight. The race that was actually, that they were all criticizing President Trump about, was Ted Budd in North Carolina and we're going to see him win by double digits. Again, a very popular past former Republican governor that had name ID probably second only to Donald Trump in the state of North Carolina," said Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff, during an interview with Just the News on Tuesday.

"But here's what he does. He not only does the rallies, he'll come in, he'll do town hall calls. He puts the word out with a number of operatives in each individual state; robocalls he will do."

Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who former President Donald Trump endorsed, was projected as the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary. 

Mastriano goes on to face the state's Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, in the general election. 

Trump spokesperson Liz Harrington said early on Tuesday that the robocalls Trump made for Oz and Mastriano would prove successful.

"These target all of our Trump voters who, if you've gone to a rally, if you voted in any of the past several elections and you are a MAGA voter, you're going to get on the line, you're going to hear from President Trump himself, and he's going to turn out the vote for his candidates. It's proven very successful," she said during an interview with Just the News.

Harrington cited Trump's tele-rally for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin the night before the election as the event that put him over the top.

"I mean, without the MAGA faithful coming out after -- there were over 100,000 voters on that call. They came out to support Glenn Youngkin and he won," she said. 

The controversial first-term Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn lost in his primary in North Carolina. Trump endorsed him and said voters should give him a second chance. He was defeated by North Carolina state Sen. Chuck Edwards.