Dr. Oz.Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Dr. Mehmet Ozis staying “focused” on his showamid reports that he is laying the groundworkto run for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.
WhileThe Washington Free Beaconon Tuesday detailed how Oz was “preparing to jump into” the race, according to unnamed sources, a spokesperson forThe Dr. Oz Showtells PEOPLE that the television personality and cardiothoracic surgeon “has no announcement at this time” regarding a potential run for office as a Republican.
“Since last year, Dr. Oz has lived and voted in Pennsylvania where he attended school and has deep family ties,” the spokesperson says, adding: “Dr. Oz has received encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate, but is currently focused on our show and has no announcement at this time.”
Oz is originally from Cleveland. In 1986, he went to medical school at the University of Pennsylvania — where he also earned an MBA. He has been a professor at the Department of Surgery at Columbia University since 2001.
Last year, his long-runningDr. Oz Showwas renewed for a 13th and 14th season — keeping it on air through the 2022-23 television season.
“I’m honored to have our long-term partners continue to support our mission to keep America healthy while providing context and analysis of complicated information in this unprecedented time,” Oz said in a statement at the time.
After several months of filming the show from home last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oz and his crewreturned to the studioin September 2020 to film season 12.
Bryon Adkins/Sony Pictures Television
The leading Republican candidate seeking to fill Toomey’s seat is Sean Parnell, a decorated Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. Democratic candidates include the lieutenant governor,John Fetterman.
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Parnell is currently embroiled in anongoing case over custodyof is his three young children with his estranged wife, Laurie Snell. During a court hearing on Monday, Parnell deniedaccounts of physical and emotional abusethat Snell gave in her own testimony last week.
Parnellannounced his candidacyin May. In September, he landed the sought-after endorsement of former PresidentDonald Trump, whose approval is often key in Republican primaries.
source: people.com
