(Ohio Twp, Pa.) Sean Parnell a Republican Candidate for United States Congress for the 17th District has said that every vote must be counted and Conor Lamb has prematurely claimed victory. The Associated Press called the race  in Democratic incumbent Conor Lamb’s  favor.

Parnell released the following statement on Thursday morning via e-mail:

“It has been a week since Election Day, and despite Conor Lamb and the press prematurely declaring a victory for Lamb, there are over 18,000 provisional and military ballots left to be counted that will impact this extremely close race.

“This election is too important for the people of Western Pennsylvania not to have every legal vote counted. Moreover, as we celebrate the sacrifices made by our military members on Veterans Day, I can speak with firsthand experience the disrespect that many military men and women feel when close races are called before counting their votes. The fact that Allegheny County has been unable to wrap this process up quickly should not affect our timeline of waiting until all votes are counted to declare victory or defeat.

“Our democratic republic is founded on the very important principle that every legal vote must be counted.  I will continue to fight and follow the constitutional process until every legal vote is counted and all legal proceedings are resolved.”