Oprah Winfrey backs Fetterman over Oz, whose TV career she helped start

TV celebrity Oprah Winfrey on Thursday night put her support behind the Pennsylvania Senate campaign of Democrat nominee John Fetterman over GOP nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz, whose celebrity career she helped start. 

"If I lived in Pennsylvania, I would’ve already cast my vote for John Fetterman, for many reasons," WInfrey during a virtual conversation on voting that she hosted.

Oz gained national exposure as a regular guest on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and lwhen Winfrey backed his spin off, "The Dr. Oz Show."

Winfrey's endorsement is not a complete surprise, considering she is a Democrat and has in the past donated for Democrats running for elected office including President Obama.

However, Winfrey said in 2021 that it was “up to the residents of Pennsylvania to decide who will represent them."

Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, welcomed the Winfrey endorsement.

"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," Fetterman said in a statement.