Dr. Oz Reportedly Considering PA U.S. Senate Bid

PENNSYLVANIA — A celebrity physician could join the growing number of candidates in next year's U.S. Senate race. Popular TV host Dr. Oz reportedly is considering running to replace Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring at the end of next year.

An Oz spokesman didn't deny that he is mulling a Senate bid. He would run as a Republican. "Dr. Oz has received encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate, but is currently focused on our show and has no announcement at this time," the spokesman told TMZ.

Oz, 61, whose real name is Mehmet Oz, is of Turkish-American descent and was born in Cleveland. He has won nine Daytime Emmy Awards for "The Dr. Oz Show" and is an attending physician at New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center, according to his President's Council on Physical Fitness biography.

Previously a featured health expert on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Oz makes regular appearances on NBC's "Today," and also appears on network newscasts and late-night comedy shows.

Oz would join a large field of Republican primary candidates, which includes Sean Parnell, a failed House candidate who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump; businessman Jeff Bartos; conservative commentator Kathy Barnette and Carla Sands, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark.

Democratic candidates include Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, U.S. Rep. Connor Lamb of Allegheny Count; Valerie Arkoosh, who chairs the Montgomery County commissioners; state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia; state Sen. Sharif Street of Philadelphia and Philadelphia physician Keven Baumlin.

Pennsylvania also will elect a new governor in 2022. Jake Corman, the Senate's president pro tempore, was expected to announce his candidacy this week.. Those plans are in flux after the Centre County Republican tested positive for COVID-19.

Corman is quarantining at home, his staff announced Wednesday.