Dr. Oz To Run For A U.S. Senate Seat In Pennsylvania

Dr. Mehmet Oz, best known for his TV talk show Dr. Oz, has announced that he is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania. The seat will be vacant when Senator Pat Toomey retires in 2022. Oz will run as a Republican candidate.

Oz announced his candidacy on his website today (11/30) asking fans to donate 25 dollars to his campaign through a red ribbon. Oz said in part, "For me, stepping into the political arena is the right thing to do."

The heart surgeon continued, "In our time of need, we want to be surrounded by people of action more than armchair intellectuals because a great surgeon never censors ideas and never shuts off the light that shines on our wounds, which is what happened while our nation battled the pandemic."

Oz shared his love for his country, saying, "Growing up as an immigrant’s kid, I witnessed my family’s sacrifices to thrive in the USA. My father grew up dirt poor (literally sleeping on a dirt floor) and loved this country as much as anyone already here because he saw the deep darkness of the alternatives. I built on these formidable lessons, as my career has arced from surgeon to hosting my own TV show."

He also noted, "The urgency of my decision crystallized during the pandemic. At least half a million American people have died from the virus, a devastating toll for families and communities. What also hurts is that many of those deaths were preventable."

No word on whether or not his TV talk show will continue.