CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has publicly stated his desire for Senator John Fetterman to abandon the Democratic Party and become a Republican.
Oz, who lost to Fetterman by five points in Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate race, made the comments during an appearance on Harry Cole’s podcast, “Harry Cole Saves the West.”
“I want everyone in the party. God works in mysterious ways, but they’re brilliant and loving ways and I’m very happy for that,” Oz said on the podcast.
When host Harry Cole asked directly whether Oz wanted Fetterman to cross the aisle, Oz did not hesitate in his response.
“Of course. We [want] as many people as are willing to be brave and push back on an orthodoxy or a rhetoric that doesn’t actually describe reality,” Oz responded.
Oz’s remarks came one day after Fetterman made a surprise video appearance at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas.
Political commentator Bill O’Reilly added fuel to the speculation on Wednesday, stating he believes Fetterman is “going to be a Republican,” citing the senator’s relationship with President Trump and Sen. Dave McCormick.
Fetterman’s 2022 Senate victory over Oz was considered a significant achievement, as the Democrat had suffered a stroke in the middle of the campaign yet still won by five points.
A Quinnipiac University survey released in July found that 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters want Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party, signaling shifting sentiment among Keystone State residents.
Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Deluzio told Chris Stirewalt on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” that he may challenge Fetterman when his Senate seat is up in 2028.
Fetterman’s increasingly independent political positioning has drawn attention from both parties, leaving observers wondering whether a formal switch could be on the horizon.
