Oprah Winfrey Endorses John Fetterman For PA U.S. Senate Seat

PITTSBURGH, PA — Oprah Winfrey played a pivotal role in Mehmet Oz's rise to fame as a celebrity doctor. But on Thursday she said she was endorsing John Fetterman, Oz's opponent in Pennsylvania's hotly contested U.S. Senate seat.

Winfrey previously said she would let Pennsylvanians decide the Senate race, but her position changed in an online discussion Thursday night on the Nov. 8 election.

"I said it was up to the citizens of Pennsylvania and of course, but I will tell you all this, if
I lived in Pennsylvania, I would have already cast my vote for John Fetterman for many reasons," Winfrey said, multiple media sites reported.

The endorsement is significant because Winfrey largely is responsible for Oz's rise to fame. He was a regular guest on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and Winfrey later

Oz rose to prominence as a regular guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show. ”CBS News reported he appeared on Winfrey's program 55 times before launching "The Dr. Oz Show," which ran for 13 seasons before Oz launched his Senate bid.

“It is an honor and privilege to have Oprah’s support in this race,” Fetterman said 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.”

Polls have indicated that Fetterman and Oz are in a dead heat for the U.S. Senate seat now held by the retiring Pat Toomey. The race has drawn national attention because the winner could decide which party controls the Senate.

President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama will be stumping for Fetterman Saturday in Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump will do the same for Oz.