John Fetterman defeated Mehmet Oz to win Pennsylvania's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Things had been looking tricky for a while. A key component of the Democrats' effort to prevent a GOP takeover of the Senate is the success of the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor in the crucial swing state. It was a wild road for Fetterman to get to the Senate.
His prior advocacy of single-payer healthcare and campaigning for Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary garnered the wrath of the private health insurance industry. Following his victory, leftists developed an interest in Fetterman as a desirable role model for populist message while exuding an air of everyman cool, as shown by Fetterman's use of hoodies, tattoos, and a laid-back conversational approach when running for office.
The money race
This race will certainly stand as one of the most expensive 2022 midterm races in the nation.
According to OpenSecrets, Fetterman raised $56.7 million, spent $52.1 million, and had about $4.5 million in cash on hand, as of October 19. Oz raised $40.4 million, spent $37.7 million, and had $2.6 million in cash on hand, as of October 19. Oz personally accounts for the majority of the money his campaign has raised.
Meanwhile, super PACs, national party committees, politically active nonprofits, and other non-candidate groups have spent more than $240 million combined in the race as of November 7, including the primaries.
