Senator John Fetterman, who suffered a stroke during his election campaign last year, was hospitalized after feeling lightheaded while attending a Senate Democratic event, his office said.
Joe Calvello, Communications Director of Fetterman, said in a statement issued on Wednesday night: Towards the end of the Senate Democratic retreat today, Senator John Fetterman began feeling lightheaded. He left and called his staff, who picked him up and drove him to the George Washington University hospital. The initial tests at the hospital did not show evidence of a stroke, but doctors were running more tests, and the senator would remain in hospital overnight, Calvello said.
He is in good spirits and talking to his staff and family. Calvello said we will provide more information when we have it.
Fetterman overturned Pennsylvania's Republican-held Senate seat in the midterm elections, his victory helped ensure that the Democrats kept control of the US upper house.
In May of last year, Fetterman had a stroke that affected his ability to speak and process the sound of others' speech. He fought a close campaign against Republican Mehmet Oz a celebrity doctor, much of which was dominated by questions about Fetterman's health.
After his stroke, when Fetterman said he had almost died, the Oz campaign launched a number of attacks with one Oz aide, Rachel Tripp, claiming that Fetterman might not have had a stroke if he had ever eaten a vegetable in his life After leading in the polls for much of the year, Fetterman saw the race tighten in the closing weeks of the campaign after a disappointing debate performance that saw some question his ability to govern.
During his victory speech in November, Fetterman referred to the stroke and how it had shaped his political priorities.
He referred the stroke again as he spoke about what he hoped to achieve in the Senate. He said healthcare is a fundamental human right. It saved my life and should be there for you whenever you need it.