Fetterman Defeats Oz, Giving Democrats Chance of Holding Senate

Democratic Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman defeated Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz in the state's hotly contested U.S. Senate race, giving Democrats a chance to sustain control of the chamber.

The race, which both parties hoped would propel them to a Senate majority, was called by CNN just after 1 a.m. Wednesday.

"We held the line," Fetterman said while speaking to supporters early Wednesday morning. "I never expected that we would turn these red counties blue but we did what we needed to do."

Also in Pennsylvania, Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro was projected to win the state's gubernatorial race, defeating Republican state Senator Doug Mastriano.

Elsewhere, competitive races in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Wisconsin had not yet been called. Republicans won closely watched races in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, while Democrats won Colorado New Hampshire's competitive Senate races.

Fetterman emphasized abortion—a major theme during the midterms—throughout his campaign, while casting Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon known for his television program The Dr. Oz Show, as out of touch with everyday Pennsylvanians.

Meanwhile, Oz, who received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, accused Fetterman of being soft on crime, while focusing on economic issues including high inflation.

Issues of Fetterman's health also dominated the race in recent weeks. He suffered a stroke in May, though he has said he expects to make a full recovery. His performance during an October debate further fueled concerns about his fitness to serve.

Polls showed the race tightening in recent weeks. While Fetterman once held a comfortable lead, his edge shrunk, with some polls showing Oz holding an advantage going into election day.

He will serve alongside Democratic Senator Bob Casey Jr., who is up for reelection in 2024. Pennsylvania has become a major swing state in recent election cycles, with President Joe Biden carrying it by only about 1.2 percentage points.

Fetterman's victory means Democrats flipped at least one Senate seat during the midterms. He is set to replace retiring GOP Senator Pat Toomey.

He further celebrated his win on Twitter.

"It's official. I will be the next U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania," he tweeted. "We bet on the people of Pennsylvania - and you didn't let us down And I won't let you down. Thank you."

In the final days of the campaign, Fetterman campaigned alongside former President Barack Obama, who carried Pennsylvania in both his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. He also received an endorsement from Oprah Winfrey, who helped launch Oz's television career.

Update 11/09/2022, 2:05 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further information.