Pa. Lt. Gov., Senate candidate Fetterman has stroke; says he expects to make full recovery

Pennsylvania’s leading Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, was admitted to a Lancaster hospital after suffering a stroke, he said in a statement.

In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, Fetterman said he’d had a stroke caused by a clot from his “heart being in an A-fib rhythm for too long.” The Allegheny County pol said his wife, Gisele Fetterman, noticed the symptoms, and urged him to seek treatment.

“On Friday, I wasn’t feeling well, so I went to the hospital to get checked out,” Fetterman tweeted on Sunday. “I didn’t want to go — I didn’t think I had to — but [Gisele Fetterman] insisted, and as usual, she was right. The good news is that I’m feeling much better + I’m on my way to a full recovery.”

In his statement, Fetterman said doctors removed the clot and were able to reverse the stroke, “and then got my heart under control as well. It’s a good reminder to listen to your body, and be aware of signs.”

My full statement here.

pic.twitter.com/1rRXDMBiu0

— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) May 15, 2022

Fetterman said he was being held for observation, but had been told by his doctors that he should be able to return to the campaign trail.

“But first, I need to take a minute, get some rest, and recover,” he continued. “There’s so much at stake in this race, and I’m going to be ready for the hard fight ahead.”

Fetterman is in a four-way contest for the Democratic nomination in a field that also includes U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-17th District; state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, and Alex Khalil, a member of Jenkintown Borough Council in Montgomery County.

The winner of Tuesday’s contest will go on to face the eventual Republican nominee in the fight to for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, of Lehigh County, who is retiring at year’s end.