Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the leading Democratic candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat, suffered a stroke Friday, days before Tuesday’s critical primary election.
The stroke was caused by a heart clot brought on by an A-fib rhythm and Fetterman remained hospitalized Sunday in Lancaster, according to information released by his campaign. Fetterman, 52, said he has not sustained any cognitive damage.
“I’m well on my way to a full recovery,” he said Sunday in a statement. “They’re keeping me here for now for observation, but I should be out of here sometime soon.”
Fetterman has been polling an average of 31 percentage points ahead of his closest rivals, U.S. Rep. Connor Lamb and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, according to Real Clear Politics.
“The doctors have assured me that I’ll be able to get back on the trail, but first I need to take a minute, get some rest, and recover,” Fetterman said. “There’s so much at stake in this race, and I’m going to be ready for the hard fight ahead.”
“But our campaign isn’t slowing down one bit, and we are still on track to win this primary on Tuesday, and flip this Senate seat in November,” he continued.
Fetterman and his wife, Gisele, also released a short video from his room at Penn Medicine’s Lancaster General Hospital.
“I just found out on live TV that Lieutenant Governor Fetterman suffered a stroke,” Lamb said on Twitter. “Hayley and I are keeping John and his family in our prayers and wishing him a full and speedy recovery.”
