Oprah Winfrey has thrown her support behind John Fetterman for the US Senate in Pennsylvania — despite her decades-long relationship with Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Winfrey is widely credited with helping to launch Dr. Oz’s career with his regular appearances on her hit television show.
On November 3, Winfrey hosted “A Virtual Voting Conversation” to discuss the midterm elections and urge people to get out and vote.
“If we do not show up to vote, if we do not get fired up in this moment, the people who will be in power will begin making decisions for us,” Winfrey said. “Decisions about how we care for our bodies, how we care for our kids, what books your children can read, who gets protected by the police and who gets targeted.”
“And right now, you have a say in these things we do,” she continued.
During the conversation, Winfrey expressed her support for the Pennsylvania Democrat.
“I’ll tell you all this, if I lived in Pennsylvania, I would have already cast my vote for John Fetterman for many reasons,” Winfrey asserted.
The television personality also backed Democrat candidates in other races.
“That is not the only race that matters. If I was in North Carolina… sister (Cheri) Beasley there, and if I was in Florida, I’d be supporting Val Demings. If I was in Wisconsin, it would be Mandela Barnes, in Nevada it would be Catherine Cortez Masto,” Winfrey said. “And in Texas, Beto O’Rourke, and Raphael Warnock and the incredible Stacey Abrams, of course, in Georgia.”
Winfrey continued, “so there are clear choices out there and some dynamic candidates who are working to represent the values — this is what we’re talking about — the values that we hold dear, the values of inclusion, the values of compassion and community that so many of us share,” she continued. “So use your discernment, which seems to be missing in a lot of our, our our country today. Use your discernment and choose wisely for the democracy of our country.”
In a statement from his campaign obtained by Rolling Stone, Fetterman expressed his gratitude for Winfrey’s support.
“It is an honor and privilege to have Oprah’s support in this race,” he said in a statment. “She is a leader on so many issues — fighting for our democracy, passing common-sense gun reform, and ensuring racial justice. I’m grateful for Oprah’s support and trust on the issues that matter to people across the country and Pennsylvania as we close out this campaign.”