June 3 (Reuters) – Former hedge fund chief David McCormick lost to wellness celebrity Mehmet Oz on Friday in the Republican primary race for a seat in the US Senate in Pennsylvania, after counting and securing another candidate backed by Donald Trump. by-elections.
Oz, who will face Democrat John Fetterman in the November 8 by-elections to replace retired Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, won by 916 votes, according to Edison Research.
The race is crucial to Republicans’ hopes of regaining control of the Senate, which is now held tightly by President Joe Biden’s fellow Democrats.
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“I will do my part to try to unite Republicans and Pennsylvanians behind his candidacy, behind his Senate nomination,” McCormick said in a retreat before Oz.
Oz secured 419,643 votes to 418,727 for McCormick, according to Edison Research.
Trump has backed more than 190 candidates in the midterm races, trying to consolidate his status as King of the Republican Party. His choices did not always prevail.
U.S. Senate Republican Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks at his party to observe the primary election in Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA, May 17, 2022. REUTERS / Hannah Beier / File Photo
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Trump backed Oz in April after his previous election was dropped when his estranged wife claimed physical violence and he lost the custody battle over his children.
Both Oz and McCormick have positioned themselves as champions of Trump’s populist program, “America First.”
“I look forward to campaigning in every corner of the British community over the next five months to win the support of every Pennsylvanian,” Oz said Friday.
Republicans are seeking to regain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in November. They are in a good position to regain control of the House of Representatives, which could allow them to stop Biden’s legislative agenda.
Democrats have a better chance of retaining their weak majority in the Senate, but in order to do so, they will have to perform well in competitions, including in Pennsylvania.
Fetterman, the current vice governor, said on Friday that he had “almost died” of a stroke he suffered days before the May 17 primary and that had diverted him from the election campaign, indicating his condition is worse than expected. he suggested at first.
“I haven’t returned 100% yet, but I’m getting closer every day,” he said. Read more
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Report by Jarrett Renshaw in Washington and Costas Pitas in Los Angeles; Edited by Eric Beach, David Gregorio and Leslie Adler
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.
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