Sen. John Fetterman Hospitalized After Feeling ‘Lightheaded’ Months After Stroke

Topline

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) has been hospitalized overnight after feeling lightheaded, his staff said in a statement late Wednesday, months after Fetterman suffered a stroke on the campaign trail that became a central focus of his midterms race.

Key Facts

Fetterman “began feeling lightheaded” at the end of a Senate Democratic retreat Wednesday, his communications director Joe Calvello said in a statement, and left to have his staff take him to The George Washington University Hospital.

The senator is remaining overnight for observation.

Initial tests did not show evidence of a stroke, Calvello said, but the hospital is performing additional tests.

The senator is “in good spirits and talking with his staff and family,” Calvello said.

Key Background

Fetterman suffered a stroke in May 2022, days before his primary election. The senator returned to the campaign trail in August, but his recovery from the stroke became a central focus of his midterm race against rival Dr. Mehmet Oz (R), who used the stroke against Fetterman and mocked his ongoing challenges as he recovered from it. Fetterman drew attention for using a closed captioning machine during an interview with NBC News, in which he conceded the stroke had affected some of his auditory and processing skills and said the episode “changes everything” about his day-to-day life. “I’m going [to] be much better – and Dr Oz is still going to be a fraud,” Fetterman said. The Pennsylvania Democrat, formerly the state’s lieutenant governor, ultimately won his election despite the challenges presented by his recovery, beating Oz with 51.6% of the vote and flipping the state’s Senate seat from Republican to Democrat.

Further Reading

Pennsylvania Senate Election: Democrat Fetterman Beats Oz To Flip Key Senate Seat (Forbes)

Fetterman Ad Raises Stroke Amid Controversy As Oz Distances Himself From Campaign’s Attacks (Forbes)

For Fetterman, Campaign Trail Doubles as Road to Recovery (New York Times)

John Fetterman survived a stroke. It could be an asset if he’s elected. (Vox)

John Fetterman had a stroke in May. Here’s what we know about his health. (Philadelphia Inquirer)