More than a dozen Democrat voters told CNN on election day that they would vote for Senate nominee John Feterman, saying the tattooed, 6-foot, 8-inch, bald, goat-boned, cargo-wearing short lieutenant governor was in line with their values, he looks like an atypical employee and would be the party’s best chance of winning the seat in November.
Feterman, a former mayor of nearby Braddock, is leading the race and is expected to do well in the western part of the state. CNN spoke to 21 voters at the polling station in the Allegheny County office building in downtown Pittsburgh. Thirteen said they supported Feterman over his two main opponents: Connor Lamb and US Representative Malcolm Kenyatta.
“He’s a human being, not so much a politician,” said Mike Schnitgen, 69.
“I think he can beat the Republican in the fall because I think some of the Trumpers might like him,” said Rich Green, 63, while Lamb “will be seen as part of the quagmire.”
“He is local. I’ve always liked his politics. I think he’s a real man, “said Tet Alu, 24, of Fetterman. “I’d like to see him win.”
Some voters said they were concerned about the news that Feterman had a stroke last week and would have a pacemaker implant today, but stayed with him.
Wendy Holt, 52, said she was on the fence between Fireman and Lamb and that Fireman’s diagnosis gave her a little last-minute break. But she still decided to vote for him because “his roots are here.”
“I went with Feterman even though he had just had a stroke,” Holt said. “I know what people have to go through to recover, and I thought, wow, that’s a lot of stress.
Some voters said they would support Lamb. Alexandra Gregory, 70, said she would support him out of loyalty to his office as her representative in the House.
“Connor Lamb has been my county representative and I have been a supporter since he first ran,” Gregory said.
On the Republican side, several Pennsylvanians said they voted for the celebrity surgeon and former TV show host Mehmet Oz because he won the approval of former President Trump. Other top-level candidates facing Oz include former hedge fund manager David McCormick and political commentator Katie Barnett.
“I voted for Oz because Trump supports it,” said Rebecca Blankenship, 59.
Carmela Weismantle, 56, wore a T-shirt that said she was proud to be American. She said she decided between Oz and Barnett, but decided to go with the one Trump chose.
“Anyone Trump supports will vote for,” Weissmantel said. “If Trump supports him, there is a reason.
But Dale Rüdiger, 62, who has been wearing Trump’s shirt since 2020, decided to go with Barnett, saying he was not sure where Oz was on some issues, although Trump supported him.
“She is more in line with my views,” Rüdiger said.
In the primary for the House of Representatives, Democrats seemed divided between Summer Lee, a progressive lawmaker and Democratic Socialist, and attorney Steve Irwin, who was approved by retired Mike Doyle.
Holt voted for Lee, a black woman, because “she advocates for reproductive rights” at a time when the constitutional right to abortion is threatened and because of her origins.
“There must be some new blood,” Holt said. “I’m tired of old white boys.”
Pro-Israeli groups backed Irwin, who is Jewish instead of Lee. Asked how his position on Israel would affect the race, Irwin told CNN: “I am a strong supporter of the state of Israel and the right of Israel to exist. And I was clear about that. And I received great support for my support for the state of Israel.
Nelson H., 27, said he was Jewish and voted for Irwin in part because of the Israeli candidate’s position.
“This is a big thing for me because I see that some people on the far left are very anti-Israel, almost the point of anti-Semitism,” said Nelson, who declined to give his full name.
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