2022 Pennsylvania Senate Voters Guide

Jonathan Fetterman (D) vs Mehmet Oz (R)

US Senate | Election | Nov 8, 2022

The Candidates

Jonathan Fetterman

Jonathan Fetterman

Democrat

Mehmet Oz

Mehmet Oz

Republican

The Issues

Abortion

Ban or legal?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Legal. Says “safeguarding access to abortion” is a “no-brainer.” “People should have control over their own bodies and their own lives. Period.” Get rid of the filibuster to “finally codify Roe into law.”

Mehmet Oz (R)

Ban. “I believe life starts at conception.” Will support “pro-life legislation that saves innocent lives.” However, in 2019 said he personally opposed abortion but was concerned with bans because as a medical student he “saw women who had coat-hanger events” and “were harmed for life.

Climate Change

Should climate change be a top priority? Tax or limit the output of greenhouse gases, or support renewable energy?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Mostly yes. Says “climate is critical.” Wants green and renewable energy and a carbon cap. Is refusing donations from fossil fuel industries. Opposes a fracking ban that would eliminate union jobs. In 2016 proposed a fracking moratorium until environmental regs tightened.

Mehmet Oz (R)

Mostly no. Supports American energy independence by producing coal, oil, gas, and renewable energy. Says the belief that “carbon is bad” is “a lie.” Supports fracking and natural gas production to lower both high energy prices, and carbon emissions.

Economy

Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Increase. Supports Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending package. Supports Governor Wolf’s Restore PA Project to invest $4.5 billion in high-impact infrastructure projects.

Mehmet Oz (R)

Decrease. Says Biden’s spending is “reckless” and “has led to inflation.” Says “the Joe Biden and John Fetterman agenda of massive spending” has caused “one of the greatest labor shortages in American history.”

Education

How to address the teaching of issues around racism and gender identity?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Says Republicans’ use of critical race theory is “divisive dog whistling” and that all of American history should be taught in schools, including “the good, the bad, the horrific.”

Mehmet Oz (R)

Says “We should not be teaching students that America is inherently racist.” But also says systemic racism in medicine has created “disparities in the health outcomes” and wants change.

Elections

Did Joe Biden legitimately win the 2020 Presidential election?

Mehmet Oz (R)

No. Absentee ballots and lack of voter ID led to cheating in the 2020 election. “We have got to understand the different ways where cheating occurs.” No specific comment found on Biden.

Environment

Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Mostly tighten. Supports a proposal to reduce pollution and prepare for floods and other severe weather conditions. Supports a transition from fossil fuels, but not immediately banning fracking.

Gun Laws

Pass more or less restrictive legislation on guns?

Health Care

Increase government role in healthcare such as expanding Medicaid, limiting drug prices, or promoting COVID safety?

Immigration

How to handle immigration? Support a path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the US as children?

Labor

Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Easier. Says unions “invented the weekend…invented worker safety… invented worker dignity.” Supported strikes by Kellogg’s unionized workers. Joined Kutztown University dining workers’ rally to form a union.

Mehmet Oz (R)

No position found.

Minimum Wage

Keep or raise federal minimum from $7.25 per hour? If raise, how much?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Yes. “You can’t live on anything less than $15 an hour.” Says supporting a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is “a hill I would die on.”

Mehmet Oz (R)

No position found.

Police and Community

How to address police use force?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

Discretion and de-escalation measures  are pro-community, pro-police.” Commenting on an incident of police brutality, said, “This officer needs to be held accountable.” Supports “using civilian review boards” for better accountability.

Mehmet Oz (R)

Is pro-law enforcement; supports providing the police with “tools and resources” to keep “our communities safe” and will give them a powerful voice in Washington.

Student Financial Aid

Support lowering interest on student loans or forgiving them?

Taxes

Should corporations and wealthier individuals pay more or less in taxes?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

More. Criticized senators who supported raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to only 25%, when it had been 31% before the 2017 tax cuts. Says “we need a wealth tax,” and believes millionaires should pay at least 30% of their income in taxes.

Mehmet Oz (R)

No position found.

Voting Rules

Support tightened restrictions on such voting rules as absentee and early voting, and voter ID?

Jonathan Fetterman (D)

No. Calls for removal of “restrictions that marginalize voters.” Calls universal voter ID “insidious and unnecessary.”  Would vote for a bill guaranteeing “everyone has the right to vote.”

Mehmet Oz (R)

Yes. Would “pass a voter ID law” to ensure “safe and secure elections.”

Share the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate Voters Guide

We have space to include only candidates polling 15%, but check out others including Erik Chase Gerhardt (L), Ronald Johnson (C), and Quincy Magee (I).

guides.vote is a nonpartisan effort to show where candidates stand, with links to credible sources. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office. Vote411.org offers guides to local races.