After playing a crucial part in the results of the 2020 presidential election, experts say that the results of Pennsylvania’s midterm elections will also play a major role in determining the makeup of this cycle’s United States Congress.
The race between Democratic candidate and former Pennsylvania state lieutenant governor John Fetterman and Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz, a retired surgeon and television personality, looks to be the Democrats’ best chance at gaining a seat in the Senate.
Early polls collected by FiveThirtyEight in October predicted a 5.8% lead for Fetterman. The narrow margin shrunk more after Fetterman’s shaky performance when the two clashed in their only formal debate on Oct. 24. Even a key Democratic strategist started to question his abilities, according to an article by NBC News.
“[Fetterman] should not have debated,” said Chris Kofinis, an experienced Democratic campaign strategist, in the article. “Anyone on his team who agreed to a debate should be fired, or never work again, because that debate may have tanked his campaign.”
On the other hand, Oz’s celebrity status remains a point of concern for Pennsylvania state voters.
“When I first heard [Oz] was running, I immediately had anxieties about another celebrity trying to run for office,” said Maddie Perkins, a senior television/video major from West Chester, Pennsylvania. “Also, knowing he wasn’t born in PA or lived there very long makes me worried that he doesn’t know the people or the state very well.”
Despite Fetterman’s performance, a poll released by The New York Times and Siena College on Tuesday, Nov. 1, found that 49% of the respondents, when asked which Senate candidate they would vote for indicated that they would vote for Fetterman, while 44% would vote for Oz.
Both candidates will be serving their first term in the United States Senate if elected.
Some students felt that the state needs a more moderate candidate than either Fetterman or Oz.
“From what I have heard, I would not personally vote for Dr. Oz,” said Hallie Washko, a sophomore Spanish and linguistics double major from the Scranton, Pennsylvania, area. “I think that since Pennsylvania is a swing state with so many different opinions and views, we need someone to be a bridge between the two. I do not think that is what he would do.”
A Pennsylvania victory for either party would signify a greater likelihood of holding on to a Senate majority. A Fetterman victory gives Democrats a three-in-four chance to keep their Senate majority, while an Oz victory would give Republicans a three-in-four opportunity to wrest power from the Democrats, according to CNN.
Kathryn Blakeley, a drama and English double major from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, does not think the election results will help solve the split between the two parties.
“I have a feeling that there’s not going to be a fix in the major rift, but I feel like there are some candidates that will make it worse,” Blakeley said.
In addition, Blakeley belives that both candidates will threatnen rights that are imporant to her.
“Given everything that’s happened with Roe v. Wade and, as you know, the Pennsylvania candidates that are terrifying, it’s a very high stakes election for reproductive rights, disability rights, LGBTQ+ rights and so much more.”
