Debate Set Between John Fetterman and Dr. Oz

Pennsylvania’s candidates for US Senate will face off in a televised debate Oct. 25 in Harrisburg.

The date has been set for a debate between Pennsylvania’s candidates for US Senate.

Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz will face off in a televised debate Oct. 25 in Harrisburg. The debate will be hosted by Nexstar Television and will air live on local network affiliates throughout the state, reaching voters in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. 

While enduring mocking messaging from Oz’s campaign over his health, Fetterman has maintained that he wanted to focus on recovering from a stroke he suffered in May before agreeing to a debate. Oz insisted on debating Fetterman on Labor Day, even though US Senate debates in Pennsylvania traditionally don’t take place until mid-to-late October. 

“My recovery may be a joke to Dr. Oz and his team, but it’s real for me,” Fetterman said in a statement last month.

Of the many issues the candidates will debate, abortion will certainly take center stage in light of a bill introduced by Senate Republicans Tuesday to ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks. 

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, promised the bill would get a vote if Republicans like Oz win their races and help the party take back control of the Senate.

In a statement on Tuesday, Oz’s campaign spokesperson refused to state clearly whether he supported the ban.

Fetterman is calling on his opponent to say whether he supports Graham’s proposed nationwide abortion ban or not.

“This isn’t some TV show. This matters. These are people’s lives,” Fetterman said in a statement. “This is a bill that he would actually have to vote on. Oz needs to tell us — yes or no, would you support this bill? I’ll help him out and go first: I’m a HELL NO.”