In a striking display of political turbulence in Pennsylvania, Democrat election official Diane Ellis-Marseglia publicly apologized for her defiance of a state Supreme Court ruling ahead of a highly contested Senate race recount.
Her decision to advocate for counting faulty ballots—a move explicitly blocked by the court—sparked a firestorm of criticism and underscored tensions in one of the nation’s most pivotal swing states.
During a charged Bucks County meeting on Wednesday, Ellis-Marseglia pleaded for forgiveness from voters, acknowledging her error. “The passion in my heart got the best of me, and I apologize again for that,” she said, noting that as an elected official, she is held to a higher standard.
Her contrition marked a stark departure from her earlier rhetoric, where she claimed that legal precedents had become irrelevant and urged others to defy the law alongside her.
Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Bucks County, PA, who said she will violate the law and count illegal ballots, now, nearly in tears, says she made a mistake.
Sen Steve Daines: "She didn't just make a mistake, she broke the law, they have to go in and arrest her for breaking the law.” 🎯 pic.twitter.com/NR44h26moG
— Eddie (@Eddies_X) November 20, 2024
This controversy arises amid an automatic recount triggered by an exceptionally tight Senate race. Multiple media outlets, including the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, have projected Republican Dave McCormick as the winner, yet Democratic Senator Bob Casey has refused to concede. The stakes are high, with control of a key swing seat hanging in the balance.
The core issue stems from a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that invalidated mail-in ballots with incorrect or missing dates on their envelopes. Despite this clear directive, Ellis-Marseglia and her Democratic colleague, Robert Harvie, voted to count the disqualified ballots, dismissing a motion by Republican Gene DiGirolamo to uphold the court’s order.
Ellis-Marseglia’s rationale at the time was defiant: “Precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country, and people violate laws any time they want.”
The Democratic resistance faced backlash not only from Republicans but also from Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, a potential 2028 presidential contender. Shapiro publicly condemned such defiance, stressing that adherence to the rule of law is paramount to maintaining faith in the electoral process. After the court reaffirmed its ruling against counting undated ballots, Shapiro urged officials to respect the law, warning against rhetoric and actions that undermine its authority.