Keystone Today

The Wolf administration announced on May 17 that as Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-PA) undergoes a "standard medical procedure," president pro tempore of the Senate, Jake Corman, will temporarily take the role of acting lieutenant governor.

Gov. Tom Wolf's (D-PA) website said that a declaration was sent from a majority of cabinet secretaries and the president pro tempore of the General Assembly to inform them that Fetterman would be unable to perform the powers and duties of his office while he was having surgery. The declaration was filed per Pennsylvania law and sent Tuesday afternoon after Wolf was informed. 

“We continue to wish the lieutenant governor the very best as he continues to focus on his health and recovery. However, as the lieutenant governor undergoes a standard procedure, there is a process in place to ensure that our government remains fully operational,” Wolf said, according to his website. “This is a short-term transfer of power, and we hope and expect the lieutenant governor to resume his duties very soon.”

According to a report by Politico, Fetterman had a stroke last week and then had to undergo heart surgery to have a pacemaker implanted. This came just before polls were closing in the U.S. Senate primary, which he won, making him Pennsylvania's Democratic candidate.

Fetterman’s campaign released a statement saying that the procedure involved implanting a pacemaker with a defibrillator. He is reportedly recovering well at the hospital. Fetterman thanked the “amazing doctors” for removing a clot, reversing a stroke and helping get his heart under control. He also said he does not have cognitive damage.

Fetterman will be able to return to his duties four days after a written declaration is sent to the General Assembly saying that there is no disability.