BRYN ATHYN, Pa. — On Tuesday, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and noted medical television personality, announced his run for the Senate seat being vacated by two-term incumbent Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)
The Daily Caller reports:
“Pennsylvania needs a conservative who will put America first, one who can reignite our divine spark, bravely fight for freedom, and tell it like it is,” Oz said in a video posted to Twitter. The campaign marks Oz’s first foray into electoral politics, but he previously served on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
Oz cited the federal mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic as a key part of his decision to run for office.
“COVID has shown us that our system is broken,” he said. “We lost too many lives, too many jobs, and too many opportunities because Washington got it wrong. They took away our freedom without making us safer, and tried to kill our spirit and our dignity.”
I’m running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania because America needs a Conservative Republican to cure what’s wrong with Washington. I’m a world-class surgeon, fighter, and health care advocate stepping forward to cure our country’s ills. Watch my announcement video now! pic.twitter.com/yLhKsZm9sl
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) November 30, 2021
Despite the fact that Pennsylvania’s Senate race is expected to be one of next year’s most competitive, the Republican primary field which Oz has entered is relatively barren. This was caused in part by the withdrawal of frontrunner Sean Parnell after he lost a custody battle to his estranged wife following several domestic abuse allegations being levied against him.
Parnell, an author, combat veteran, and former House candidate, saw himself effectively become the Republicans’ presumptive nominee after an early endorsement from former President Donald Trump seemed to ward other big names in the party away from the primary field.
Should Oz receive the Republican nomination, he would likely face off against one of two Democratic frontrunners: Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, whose platform is that of a Bernie Sanders-esque social democrat, or moderate Pittsburgh-area Rep. Conor Lamb.
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