Fetterman beats Oz in Pennsylvania Senate race

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has won Pennsylvania’s seat in the U.S. Senate, according to preliminary numbers from The Associated Press early Wednesday. With roughly 82 percent of ballots in, Fetterman was winning with about 49 percent of the vote. Republican Mehmet Oz gathered roughly 48 percent of the vote. Fetterman will replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, marking a disappointing loss of a Senate seat for the GOP.

How is Fetterman’s health? He decided to continue actively campaigning for Senate despite suffering a stroke in May. He was leading in the polls for much of the race but was criticized for his performance in his only debate with Oz. He’s developed a national following with his brand of progressive politics and trademark appearance—he is 6 feet, 9 inches tall. Oz would have been the United States’ first Muslim senator and describes himself as a “secular Muslim.” A retired cardiothoracic surgeon, he became well-known through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and later his own program.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Stew about Oz and Fetterman’s debate.