Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman hospitalized; had been feeling lightheaded

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman was hospitalized Wednesday after he was “feeling lightheaded” earlier within the day, in keeping with a press release from his workplace.

The Pennsylvania Democrat started feeling in poor health towards the top of a Senate Democratic retreat, in keeping with the assertion from Communications Director Joe Calvello.

“He left and referred to as his employees, who picked him up and drove him to The George Washington College Hospital. Preliminary exams didn’t present proof of a brand new stroke, however docs are operating extra exams and John is remaining in a single day for remark,” Calvello stated within the assertion.

“He’s in good spirits and speaking along with his employees and household. We’ll present extra data when we have now it.”

Fetterman, 53, suffered a stroke Could 13, simply days earlier than the Senate major again. He went on to defeat Republican Mehmet Oz within the common election, however was dogged by well being considerations all through the marketing campaign.

His marketing campaign launched a physician’s word in October saying Fetterman confirmed no indicators of getting his “cognitive skill,” or his skill to suppose and purpose, affected by the stroke, regardless of persevering with to endure some lingering results.

In an Related Press profile simply weeks after his victory, Fetterman was described as nonetheless affected by auditory processing dysfunction, a stroke’s widespread aftereffect. The dysfunction can go away an individual unable to talk fluidly and rapidly course of spoken dialog into which means.

The consequences of the stroke had been obvious in Fetterman’s uneven efficiency in the course of the fall marketing campaign’s solely debate. He struggled to finish sentences and jumbled phrases, inflicting concern amongst Democrats that his election was doomed.

On election evening, he informed cheering supporters he ran for “anybody that ever obtained knocked down that obtained again up.”

Fetterman, a presence at 6-foot-8 with a clean-shave head and a goatee and recognized for sporting hoodies and shorts, was the state’s lieutenant governor from 2019-2023. He served as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006-2019.

Fetterman was sworn in as senator in January, succeding outgoing Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.

The Related Press contributed to this report.