Mehmet Oz Running For Senate Seat, What About His Show?

Mehmet Oz is undergoing another career change. The daytime talk show host and cardiothoracic surgeon announced his run for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania as a Republican candidate. On Tuesday, November 30, the conservative newspaper Washington Examiner published an op-ed that shared Oz’s future plans.

The television personality claims he can come up with “solutions” to problems. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is what inspired Oz to run for Senate. He feels that he can pair medicine and politics perfectly. Read on to learn more about his political ambitions and why he wants to run in the state of Pennsylvania.

Celebrity surgeon to run for Senate in Pennsylvania

TMZ was the first mainstream outlet to break the news about Mehmet Oz’s run for U.S. Senate. He made the official announcement in a video. Oz listed his accomplishments, most of which took place throughout his long-running television career. He feels that he’s the right candidate who can solve the problems of what’s going on in the world.

Oz didn’t hold back on how he felt about the current leadership in Washington D.C. He argued that they got the coronavirus pandemic all wrong. He will become a Republican candidate who will “tell it like it is.”

“During the pandemic, I learned that when you mix politics and medicine, you get politics instead of solutions,” Oz wrote in a statement, according to CNN. “That’s why I am running for the U.S. Senate: to help fix the problems and to help us heal.”

The 61-year-old doctor is up against some heavy competition. The Republican primary field already includes Carla Sands and Jeff Bartos. There are rumors that David McCormick could also run. He previously worked in the Treasury Department under President George W. Bush.

Oz is not from the state of Pennsylvania. He is an Ohio native, who attended the University of Pennsylvania. He became famous when he frequently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. His increasing popularity led to the creation of his syndicated daytime talk show in 2009, under the Oprah Winfrey Productions.

Mehmet Oz always had an interest in politics

This news may come as a shock to those who aren’t familiar with the TV doctor. Yet, Oz. has always had an interest in the Senate race. Earlier this year, both Politico and the Washington Free Bacon reported his possible entry into politics. Back in 2007, Oz shared that he would “consider” running for office one day. At the time, he referred to himself as a “moderate Republican.”

He previously appeared on TMZ Live. At the time, he would not discuss his plans about running. He also teased that he was headed in that direction. Oz now has a campaign staff that includes the likes of Chris Hansen, who ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Oz also worked in the White House. When Donald Trump was the 45th president, he appointed Oz to the President Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in 2018. Two years later, Trump reappointed the same position to Oz.

What will happen to The Dr. Oz Show?

With the news of Mehmet Oz running for Senate, some have to wonder about the future of his talk show. He’s been met with criticism for expanding his business portfolio. After all, he’s known to wear many hats. He also came under fire for some of his medical claims. Oz promoted green coffee beans for weight loss and Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.

This announcement could mean that Oz is leaving the television world for a life of politics. He feels that this recent rebranding will improve his name recognition and relationship with the media. Per The Hollywood Reporter, The Dr. Oz Show has been renewed for the 2022-2023 season. It’s unclear what will happen to the future of the show if Oz were to win the Republican race.

His Senate run is already controversial in itself. Oz just registered to vote in New Jersey last year. According to The Philadelphia Reporter, he used his in-laws’ Montgomery County as his voting address. Oz joins a list of celebrities who embarked on political careers, including Caitlyn Jenner and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

What are your thoughts on Oz running for Senate? Do you think this will mark the end of his talk show? Sound off below in the comments.