Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is a celebrity heart surgeon, is planning to run as a Republican candidate for the open Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Two sources, who spoke to the Associated Press, have said that the popular host of the Dr. Oz show on TV has told associates and Republicans in Pennsylvania that he would be a candidate for the seat.
AP news said that one source said that they had heard it directly from Dr. Oz while the others said that that they had been briefed on the matter in a separate conversation. Both the sources spoke to the outlet on the condition of anonymity as the conversations were private. In public, Dr. Oz has mentioned through a TV show spokesperson that he had been encouraged to run for the seat.
Earlier in a preview, Sean Hannity of Fox News had said that Dr. Oz would appear on his show and Dr. Oz had a huge announcement and he dropped a hint which said “think midterm election.” So, it is expected that Dr. Oz will make his announcement on Hannity’s show on Tuesday.
If Dr.Oz steps in as a candidate, he might have to explain why he did not choose to run in New Jersey, where he has resided for the past twenty years, before he started voting in Pennsylvania’s election in Montgomery County by absentee ballot that was registered to the address of his in-laws. They have an address registered at Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, according to the New York Post.
The GOP primary race has been shaken up after an early favorite, Sean Parnell, endorsed by Donald Trump, withdrew from the race. A judge ruled against him in a custody battle. There have been allegations of abuse by him against his estranged wife and three children. GOP Senator Pam Toomey is retiring.
In 2007, according to a report by CNN, Dr. Oz had said that he would “consider” a run for office some day. He had labeled himself as a moderate Republican.
