A key opponent in Dr. Oz’s run for Pennsylvania has won the backing of Oprah Winfrey, despite her long history with the famed doctor and television star.
Dr. Oz, born Mehmet Oz, announced he would run as a Republican in the midterm election contest. The decision faced backlash, including a number of TV stations (Philadelphia, New York City and Cleveland – among others) stating they would be removing his show off the air. Earlier this year, Columbia University cut ties with the right-winged talk show host and he was fired from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition due to his candidacy.
“I’m running for the United States Senate to turn the lights back on in America,” reads a statement on this website. “That’s the first thing I do in the operating room, and it’s how we’ll start shining a light on what’s wrong with our country.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Winfrey announced Thursday that she favors Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman.
“If I lived in Pennsylvania, I would’ve already cast my vote for John Fetterman, for many reasons,” Winfrey said.
Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, said it was an “honor” to be endorsed by Oprah.
“It is an honor and privilege to have Oprah’s support in this race,” said Fetterman in a statement. “She is a leader on so many issues — fighting for our democracy, passing common-sense gun reform, and ensuring racial justice. I’m grateful for Oprah’s support and trust on the issues that matter to people across the country and Pennsylvania as we close out this campaign.”
Oz first rose to fame as a recurring guest on her top-rated show The Oprah Winfrey Show and was eventually given his own spin off show called The Dr. Oz Show. The show aired for over 10 years until its final air date in January 2022.
In 2021, Winfrey told New York Magazine that it was “up to the residents of Pennsylvania to decide who will represent them.”
During the conversation, Oprah also announced her support for Democrats in key other key races, including North Carolina’s Cheri Beasley, Florida’s Val Demings, Wisconsin’s Mandela Barnes, Nevada’s Catherine Cortez Masto, Texas’ Beto O’Rourke, and Georgia’s Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams.
