Who is Dr. Mehmet Oz? What to know about ex-TV show host running for Pennsylvania Senate.
In the Pennsylvania Senate race, Donald Trump’s clout proved to be just enough to propel celebrity surgeon and TV host Mehmet Oz, better known as Dr. Oz, to a tight GOP primary victory earlier this year over former hedge fund executive Dave McCormick in a race that took more than two weeks to call.
Oz is looking to emerge victorious on Nov. 8 as voters decide between him and his Democratic opponent, former Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.
Oz trailed Fetterman by a significant margin in the polls after their primary victories, but the Republican closed the gap in recent months as Fetterman’s health faced a great deal of scrutiny following a stroke in May.
Now polls show Oz just two points behind in a race that will help determine which party controls the Senate for the rest of President Joe Biden’s term.
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Who is John Fetterman?: Oz's Democratic opponent in Pennsylvania
Who is Dr. Oz?
Oz is best known for his nationally syndicated television program the Dr. Oz Show, which came to an end with his Senate run. Oz’s ascent to fame began with frequent appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show, where he appeared as a health expert, before finally getting his own show in 2009.
He had worked as a heart surgeon at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, according to his biography on the Dr. Oz Show website.
In the medical community, Oz’s promotion of alternative medicines has made him a controversial figure. Some doctors have gone as far as to publicly call for Columbia University, where Oz taught, to cut its ties with the now Senate candidate, Vox reported.
The university removed Oz’s profile from its website, the Daily Beast and others reported, following his Senate race entrance.
Oz earned his doctor of medicine from the University of Pennsylvaniain 1986. He also has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Oz's parents immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey. His father, Mustafa, had also been a surgeon.
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How old is Dr. Oz?
Oz was born on June 11, 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio. He is 61 years old.
What is Dr. Oz’s policy platform?
Oz’s campaign website lists more than a dozen issue areas. In his first campaign ad, Oz appealed to his medical background and addressed the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They took away our freedom,” Oz said in the ad. “Without making us safer.”
His campaign site notes Oz’s opposition to business shutdowns and support for keeping children in schools. He also told Fox News he was opposed to vaccine mandates.
Another focus of the Oz campaign is “energy independence,” which was one of many issues highlighted in Trump’s endorsement statement. His campaign site says Oz supports slashing regulations on the fossil fuel industry to increase domestic energy production.
The rest of Oz’s platform runs the gamut on the GOP's defining issues during Joe Biden's presidency.
“Election security,” “cancel culture,” and “get tough on China,” are all focuses of the campaign along with more classic Republican positions on gun rights, the economy, immigration and abortions.
On Twitter, Oz weighed in on the leaked majority opinion draft written by Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito, agreeing with Alito’s rebuke of Roe v. Wade.
The Court is right. Roe was wrongly decided. Abortion laws should be left up to the American people and their elected representatives. I look forward to supporting pro-life legislation that saves innocent lives in the U.S. Senate. https://t.co/imigvISfMI
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) May 3, 2022
Who is endorsing Dr. Oz?
Aside from Trump, Oz is backed by former Republican Texas governor Rick Perry and Fox News’ Sean Hannity. J.D. Vance, the Ohio GOP Senate nominee, and former Republican presidential candidate and Housing and Urban Development ecretary Ben Carson also support Oz.
Who is Dr. Oz’s daughter?
One of Oz’s children is his daughter Daphne Oz, a chef and TV personality, who hosts a cooking show that replaced her father’s show. In 1985, Oz married his wife Lisa, with whom he has four children.
Who is Dave McCormick?: Former hedge fund executive ran for Senate against Oz in Pennsylvania
Who is Kathy Barnette?: The GOP candidate surged late in Pennsylvania Senate primary
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Dr. Oz? Ex-TV host is running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania
