Fetterman hospitalized; had been feeling lightheaded
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman was hospitalized Wednesday after he was “feeling lightheaded” earlier in the day, according to a statement from his office.
The Pennsylvania Democrat began feeling ill toward the end of a Senate Democratic retreat, according to the statement from Communications Director Joe Calvello.
“He left and called his staff, who picked him up and drove him to The George Washington University Hospital. Initial tests did not show evidence of a new stroke, but doctors are running more tests and John is remaining overnight for observation,” Calvello said in the statement. “He is in good spirits and talking with his staff and family. We will provide more information when we have it.”
Fetterman, 53, suffered a stroke May 13, just days before the Senate primary. He went on to defeat Republican Mehmet Oz in the general election, but was dogged by health concerns throughout the campaign.
His campaign released a doctor’s note in October saying Fetterman showed no signs of having his “cognitive ability,” or his ability to think and reason, affected by the stroke, despite continuing to suffer some lingering effects.
In an Associated Press profile just weeks after his victory, Fetterman was described as still suffering from auditory processing disorder, a stroke’s common aftereffect. The disorder can leave a person unable to speak fluidly and quickly process spoken conversation into meaning.
The effects of the stroke were apparent in Fetterman’s uneven performance during the fall campaign’s only debate. He struggled to complete sentences and jumbled words, causing concern among Democrats that his election was doomed.
On election night, he told cheering supporters he ran for “anyone that ever got knocked down that got back up.”
Fetterman was the state’s lieutenant governor from 2019-2023. He served as mayor of Braddock from 2006-2019.
Fetterman was sworn in as senator in January, succeeding outgoing Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.