Fetterman: Trump will challenge Pennsylvania election results in 2022

Oct. 25—WILKES-BARRE — Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate John Fetterman this week said new reporting in Rolling Stone unveiled details of former President Donald Trump's plan to challenge the midterm election results, with a particular focus on the Pennsylvania Senate race.

Joe Calvello, spokesperson for Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman's campaign for Senate, released the following statement:

"It's clear that Donald Trump, Dr. Oz, and the GOP will do whatever it takes to try and steal this race on Election Night. Trump has already said he 'needs' people like Oz in office to challenge the 2024 election.

"Trump is trying to steal the 2022 election for Oz so that Trump can steal the 2024 election for himself.

"Dr. Oz needs to immediately disavow these efforts, respect the will of the voters in 2022, and pledge to vote to certify the results of the 2024 election, not challenge the results on behalf of Donald Trump."

According to the Fetterman campaign, "Rolling Stone reports that Trump has convened a series of in-person meetings and calls to lay the groundwork to challenge the election results, and he has his sights set squarely on Pennsylvania. If the Pennsylvania Senate race is close on Election Night, Trump's allies plan to wage aggressive court campaigns and launch a media blitz to try and steal the election — just like he attempted in 2020."

According to the Rolling Stone's reporting, "Pennsylvania has grabbed his interest most keenly, including in the Senate contest between Democrat John Fetterman and the Trump-endorsed GOP contender Mehmet Oz. If the Republican does not win by a wide enough margin to trigger a speedy concession from Fetterman — or if the vote tally is close on or after Election Night in November — Trump and other Republicans are already preparing to wage a legal and activist crusade against the 'election integrity' of Democratic strongholds such as the Philly area."

Dr. Oz unveils his

plan to fight crime

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, this week unveiled his plan to fight crime as Pennsylvania's next United States Senator.

The six-point plan, which ranges from stopping drug crimes to smarter sentencing reform, is a sharp contrast to John Fetterman's plan to release convicted murderers from prison and decriminalize heroin and fentanyl.

"We cannot afford to continue down the disastrous path set by my radical opponent John Fetterman and his far-left partner in crime Larry Krasner," Oz stated. "As Senator, I will fight to increase resources for safer streets, prosecuting criminals, stopping drug crime, and reducing crime in our prisons. These are real solutions we can achieve together, and they are vastly different from what John Fetterman and his extremist allies have advocated: pardons for convicted murderers, decriminalizing heroin and fentanyl, eliminating cash bail, and defunding our police. These policies are deadly, dangerous, and wrong for Pennsylvania."

The plan includes:

Stop drug crimes

Smart sentencing reform

Increase resources for safer streets

Prosecute crime today, not tomorrow

Victims and users' relief

Reduce crime in prison

Fetterman releases updated

medical report from his doctor

Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman this week released an updated medical report from his primary care doctor following an office visit on Friday, Oct. 14.

The report states that John "is recovering well from his stroke and his health has continued to improve" and concludes that he "has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office."

The report also notes: "He spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits. His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty. Occasional words he will 'miss' which seems like he doesn't hear the word but it is actually not processed properly. His hearing of sound such as music is not affected. His communication is significantly improved compared to his first visit assisted by speech therapy which he has attended on a regular basis since the stroke."

In addition, Fetterman's physical exam was normal with blood pressure 116/82, heart rate 80, and pulse oximetry of 97% on room air. His lung exam was clear, his heart rate was regular, and his strength was normal.

The results from lab testing were also positive. Fetterman's doctor described his lipid profile for cholesterol as "excellent" and reported that his kidney function, electrolytes, liver function, and vitamin levels are all normal.

Lt. Governor Fetterman released the following statement:

"Since my stroke five months ago, one of the best parts of this campaign has been the unbelievable number of Pennsylvanians who have shared their own stories with us about the major health problems they've faced and overcome in their lives. It reminds me why I'm fighting to slash health care costs and make it so every Pennsylvanian can spend more time with the people they love. Unfortunately for Dr. Oz, I'm ready to serve and continue to get better every single day."

Oz and Fetterman debate

to air tonight, Oct. 8 p.m.

Tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 25, Dr. Oz and John Fetterman will debate in the one and only Pennsylvania U.S. Senate debate.

The debate will be held at 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday in the Harrisburg studio of an ABC television station.

Dr. Oz says there is a long list of questions Fetterman needs to answer following months of hiding from the voters and media.

Brittany Yanick Communications Director for Dr. Oz for Senate, issued a statement:

"John Fetterman has some explaining to do since he's been hiding from media scrutiny. Since his return to the campaign trial Fetterman has only had one — disastrous — in-person — interview where he doubled down on his support for releasing convicted murderers, evaded questions about his medical records, and offered more of the same extreme politics that has failed Pennsylvanians. One interview and one debate are never going to cover the mountain of radical statements and policies John Fetterman has made over the course of his career."

Dems intervene against GOP efforts

to restrict voting by mail in Pennsylvania

The Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party (PA Dems) are intervening to stop Republicans' latest attempt to restrict voting by mail in Pennsylvania.

Key points from the motion:

—Republicans are attempting to overrule clear guidance from Pennsylvania's secretary of the Commonwealth by trying to force county boards of election to exclude and segregate from the vote any undated or incorrectly dated mail ballots — even though they were stamped as timely received by the county boards of elections.

—This action, filed just three weeks before the election and when many mail ballots have already been sent out and returned, would disenfranchise countless lawful Pennsylvania voters who timely filled out and returned a mail ballot but did not write the correct date on the ballot.

—The Court should reject the Republicans' effort to disqualify these ballots and should make clear that every county in Pennsylvania must count them.

—Millions of Pennsylvanians of both parties cast their votes using mail-in ballots. For example, during the 2020 general election, about 2.6 million of the more than 6.9 million Pennsylvanians who voted did so via mail and absentee ballot. According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of State, as of Oct. 18, 2022, 1.2 million mail-in ballots have been requested in Pennsylvania for the 2022 general election.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.