Topline
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was discharged from a D.C. hospital Friday afternoon after being admitted Wednesday for lightheadedness, according to a spokesman, in the latest health scare for the freshman senator, who suffered a serious stroke during his Senate campaign last year.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) is sworn in as a senator on January 3, 2023 in Washington. (Photo by … [+]
Key Facts
Joe Calvello, Fetterman’s communications director, said in a brief statement that Fetterman received several tests—including an MRI, EEG and CT scan—which found “no evidence of seizures” and ruled out a stroke.
Fetterman intends to return to the Senate on Monday, Calvello said, alleviating concerns among some Democrats about a prolonged absence hurting the party’s slim majority in the chamber.
Key Background
Fetterman’s health was heavily scrutinized heading into the midterms, since the Pennsylvania Senate race was one of the most hotly contested in the country in an election with razor-tight margins. Fetterman came out victorious by nearly four percentage points over Republican nominee Mehmet Oz, despite many political pundits lambasting Fetterman over a debate performance where he often struggled to speak simple sentences. The stroke notably left Fetterman with a hearing impairment that requires him to use a closed captioning device to understand voices and partake in conversations. Fetterman has kept a relatively low profile since being sworn in as a senator last month, especially since his hearing condition has left him unable to engage with reporters while walking through the halls of the Capitol, which is commonplace for other members of Congress, according to the New York Times.
Big Number
51. That’s how many seats the Democratic caucus holds in the Senate—just enough for a majority. Fetterman’s defeat of Oz flipped Pennsylvania’s Senate seat from Republican to Democratic control, expanding the Democrats’ majority from the razor-thin 50-50 split that lasted from 2021 to this year.,
Further Reading
Sen. John Fetterman Hospitalized After Feeling ‘Lightheaded’ Months After Stroke (Forbes)
Pennsylvania Senate Candidate John Fetterman Released From Hospital After Stroke (Forbes)
John Fetterman Wins Democratic Nomination For Pennsylvania Senate Seat (Forbes)
Pennsylvania Senate Election: Democrat Fetterman Beats Oz To Flip Key Senate Seat (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/02/10/john-fetterman-discharged-from-hospital-after-2-days-will-return-to-senate-monday-office-says/