John Fetterman.Photo: Michelle Gustafson/Bloomberg via Getty

John Fetterman, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania and Democratic senate candidate, speaks during a campaign event in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Fetterman, the only candidate who has run statewide, leads the Democratic field with 33% in an Emerson College poll last month.

After suffering a stroke on Friday, Pennsylvania’s Lt. Gov.John Fettermanand candidate for U.S. Senate underwent a related procedure to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator, his campaign announced Tuesday, the very day voters headed to the polls in the state’s Democratic primary.

Fetterman, 52, won his race, paving the way for him to run against the Republican candidate in November — though that contest is still too close to call.

“Democrats are united around John, who is a strong nominee, will run a tough race, and can win in November,” PresidentJoe Bidensaid in astatementTuesday once it was clear that Fetterman had defeated his closest rival, Rep. Conor Lamb, with 59 percent of the vote.

“And while we await the results of the GOP primary, one thing is clear – these candidates are not your father’s GOP,” Biden continued in his statement, referring to leading Republicans Dr.Mehmet Oz, Dave McCormick and Kathy Barnette. “They have fought a malicious, chaotic primary campaign to be the most extreme. And they have shown people their authentic selves — that whoever emerges will be too dangerous, too craven, and too extreme to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate.”

Michael M. Santiago/Getty

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman campaigns for U.S. Senate at a meet and greet at Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport on May 10, 2022 in Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania. Fetterman is the Democratic primary front runner in a field that includes U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and state Sen. Malcolm Kenyatta in the May 17 primary vying to replace Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring.

“I’m just a dude that shows up and just talks about what I believe in, you know?” Fettermansaid in an interviewlast week withThe New York Times, vowing to “get good Democratic stuff done” if elected to the Senate.

Issues like raising the minimum wage, criminal justice reform, abortion access, voting rights, and protections for LGBTQ+ people are all issues Fetterman, who has a degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, has reportedly campaigned on, often in rural counties filled with working-class voters who supported Trump.

“He may not look like a Senate candidate for New York or California, but he’s just fine for Pennsylvania,” Ed Rendell, a Democratic former governor, told theTimesof the nominee. “He’s a very believable candidate for the working class.”

Fetterman faced criticism for confronting a Black man he believed was involved in a gunfire incident near his home in Braddock, Penn., in 2013,according toThe Washington Post.

Now he’s considered one of Democrats' best chances at picking up a seat in the Senate that’s currently split 50-50.

“John Fetterman understands that working class families in Pennsylvania and across the country have been dealt out for far too long,” Biden said in his statement Tuesday. “It’s time to deal them back in, and electing John to the United States Senate would be a big step forward for Pennsylvania’s working people.”

source: people.com