Democrat John Fetterman defeats Trump-backed GOP rival Dr. Mehmet Oz in pivotal Pennsylvania Senate race, NBC News projects - CNBC

Pennsylvania's Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman volition decision Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz successful a pivotal Senate contention that could beryllium a decisive stroke successful the conflict for power of the precocious enclosure of Congress, NBC News projects.

With 90% of the ballot counted, Fetterman led Oz 49.4% to 48.1%, a borderline of astir 66,000 votes, according to NBC.

Fetterman volition win retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, moving a Republican-held Senate spot into Democratic hands.

Democrats, who held the slimmest-possible Senate bulk heading into Election Day, were banking connected flipping the spot successful the cardinal plaything state, wherever President Joe Biden defeated erstwhile President Donald Trump 2 years earlier.

The projected verdict deals different stroke to Trump, who backed Oz successful a hard-fought GOP superior predetermination and campaigned for him successful the general.

"It's official. I volition beryllium the adjacent U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania," Fetterman tweeted aboriginal Wednesday morning.

"We stake connected the radical of Pennsylvania - and you didn't fto america down," Fetterman's tweet said.

A spokeswoman for Oz did not instantly respond to CNBC's petition for remark connected NBC's projection.

Oz, a personage doc who had invested millions of dollars of his ain wealth successful his archetypal run for elected office, trailed Fetterman successful the polls passim the contention — adjacent aft a changeable took the Democratic nominee disconnected the way for 3 months.

A affluent TV big who lived successful New Jersey until a twelvemonth earlier launching his campaign, Oz had struggled to shingle disconnected accusations of being an out-of-touch carpetbagger with small transportation to the Keystone State.

Fetterman's run sought to exemplify this constituent astatine each opportunity, slamming Oz for allegedly owning galore properties oregon complaining astir the terms of vegetables for a "crudites" platter.

Polls showed Oz making gains successful the last weeks of the race, arsenic his run bombarded Fetterman with accusations of being brushed connected transgression and excessively acold near for Pennsylvania. But Oz inactive held precocious unfavorability ratings heading into Election Day.

Before midnight connected Tuesday, Oz told a assemblage of his supporters that "when each the ballots are counted, we judge we volition triumph this race."

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