Pennsylvania’s Senate race is headed for a recount, which the narrow margin between Republican Dave McCormick and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey triggered automatically under state law.

Commonwealth Secretary Al Schmidt announced Wednesday that unofficial results showing a close race had prompted a recount. Schmidt said in his announcement that counties must begin the recount no later than Nov. 20 and that they must complete the process by noon on Nov. 26. The results will not be published until November 27.

Just over 29,000 votes, or 0.4% of the total votes cast, separate the two candidates, with McCormick in a narrow lead. Any margin below 0.5 percentage points triggers a recount in Pennsylvania. NBC News has yet to project a winner in the race.

McCormick spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory called his leadership “insurmountable” in a statement.

“A recount will be a waste of taxpayer time and money, but it is Senator Casey’s prerogative,” Gregory said, further referring to McCormick’s narrow loss in 2022. “Senator-elect McCormick knows what it’s like to lose an election and he is certain that Senator Casey will eventually come to the correct conclusion.”

Casey didn’t give up the race. “When the vote gets to a certain level, the state makes a decision and they made that decision. More votes to count,” he said Wednesday at the Capitol.

Casey said in a statement Tuesday that “the American democratic process was born in Pennsylvania, and the process will continue.”

Former President Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania, helping him secure enough electoral votes for the presidency. But the current vote tally shows a sizable gap between Trump and McCormick, with Trump winning by more than 100,000 more votes than McCormick. Casey trails Vice President Kamala Harris by about 40,000 votes.

McCormick declared victory days after the election, telling supporters in Pittsburgh on Friday that Casey couldn’t beat him.

“I wish him and his family the best and thank them for their service,” McCormick said. “But we have to move on to changing the direction of the country.”

Asked about the possibility of a recount, McCormick told reporters Friday: “I don’t know if there will be a recount or not, but the people have spoken, there is a clear victory, and I will respectfully move forward on that basis. “

Senate Republicans have already secured their majority in the Senate, picking up seats in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana.

NBC News projected that Democratic Senate candidates in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin won their races even though Trump carried the states.