Oprah Launched Dr. Oz's Career, but Endorses John Fetterman

Oprah Winfrey is backing John Fetterman over Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania's tight Senate race, despite previously using her widely viewed talk show to elevate Oz to his current pop-culture status as a celebrity physician.

The cultural icon Thursday night endorsed Fetterman, Pennsylvania's Democratic lieutenant governor, over the GOP's Oz, her onetime protege. The endorsement from Winfrey, who has previously supported Democrats, ends months of pressure for her to distance herself from Oz, whose Senate bid is backed by former President Donald Trump.

"I'll tell you all this, if I lived in Pennsylvania, I would have already cast my vote for John Fetterman for many reasons," Winfrey said during a get-out-the-vote event held online.

Oz made a total of 62 appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, her highly watched daytime talk show, before becoming the host of The Dr. Oz Show in 2009.

When Oz announced his run for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat in 2021, Winfrey shied away from supporting his political aspirations, telling New York magazine, "It's up to the residents of Pennsylvania to decide who will represent them."

Oz discontinued his show in 2021 as he launched his bid. Winfrey faced growing calls to use her cultural influence to denounce Oz after he received the backing of Trump in April, with critics arguing she shared the blame for his political rise.

"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."

Newsweek has reached out to Oz's campaign for comment.

Democrats have viewed Pennsylvania as a potential Senate pickup in what could otherwise be a difficult election. Fetterman emerged as an early frontrunner in the state won by Joe Biden in 2020. But the race has tightened and is now listed as a dead heat by poll tracking website FiveThirtyEight.

Speaking on the call, Winfrey also voiced her support for other Democrats running in close Senate races in North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin and Nevada. She also said she'd support Stacey Abrams and Beto O'Rourke, who are trying to unseat Republican governors in Georgia and Texas, respectively.

Winfrey said "there are clear choices out there" and asked voters to support candidates who "represent the values we hold dear, the values of inclusion, and the compassion that we all share."

"So use your discernment and choose wisely for the democracy of our country," she said.