On Tuesday, TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz launched his campaign to become the next U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.   Dr. Oz made the announcement in a Washington Examiner op-ed, which sharply criticized how the government has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that “many” COVID deaths “were preventable.”  Oz wrote:  “During the pandemic, I learned that when you mix politics and medicine, you get politics instead of solutions. That’s why I am running for the U.S. Senate: to help fix the problems and to help us heal.” 

Oz’s television show is produced in New York City, but has been a longtime New Jersey resident. He recently registered to vote at his in-laws’ home in suburban Philadelphia. He also attended the University of Pennsylvania for medical school.

In a video released by his campaign, Oz said “Pennsylvania needs a conservative who will put America first.” He also criticized the federal government’s pandemic response, saying, “Washington got it wrong. They took away our freedom without making us safer.”  Oz joins several other candidates who are vying for the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Senator Pat Toomey. Trump-endorsed candidate Sean Parnell dropped out of the race last week, after losing a custody battle amid abuse allegations by his estranged wife..

Businessman Jeff Bartos, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands and conservative commentator Kathy Barnette are among those who are also seeking the GOP nomination. Bridgewater Associates CEO David McCormick, who is married to former President Trump’s deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, is considering a bid for the GOP nomination as well. On the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Conor Lamb, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, state Senator Malcolm Kenyatta and Montgomery County Supervisor Val Arkoosh are all vying for the nomination.

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