Oz–Fetterman Race Tightens As Candidates Campaign in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh was front and center last weekend in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race as Republican nominee Mehmet Oz held a press conference downtown on Sept. 30 while Democratic opponent John Fetterman spoke at a rally in the city’s Strip District the next day.

Fetterman is Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor and a former longtime mayor of Braddock, a borough of 1,633 eight miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

At the Oct. 1 rally, Fetterman walked out to the stage to “Renegade,” a 1979 song by Styx that is a fan favorite during Steelers’ home games.

“I’m kind of a Heinz Stadium, Dr Oz is more of an Acrisure Stadium,” Fetterman said.

State Lt. Gov. and U.S. senatorial candidate John Fetterman delivers remarks during a “Women for Fetterman” rally at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2022. (Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP via Getty Images)

Since both candidates won their primaries, Fetterman has trolled Oz on social media and in speeches and interviews, sharing his viewpoint that the celebrity surgeon is a wealthy carpetbagger who is “out of touch” with Pennsylvanians.

Heinz owned naming rights to the Steelers’ stadium until this year when was the name of the Steelers’ stadium until this year when the iconic Pittsburgh brand opted to not renew their contract. The stadium now bears the name of Acrisure Insurance, which is based in Michigan.

Fetterman had a double-digit lead in polls over the summer when he mostly remained at home recovering from a severe stroke he suffered before the May 3 primary.

Oz, and multiple media outlets, have called for Fetterman to release his medical records, questioning his ability to fulfill his role as a senator if he wins on Nov. 8.

The Oz campaign has also criticized Fetterman for only agreeing to one debate—on Oct. 25, two

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases