John Fetterman has represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate since 2023. He ran and won in 2022 as a plain-spoken, working- class, union-friendly Democrat who hammered issues like wages, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Born August 15, 1969, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Fetterman attended Albright College and later earned a master’s in public policy from Harvard. He served as mayor of Braddock from 2006–2013, where he focused on gun violence reduction, community development, and rebuilding a post-industrial steel town. He then served as Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor from 2019–2023.
Fetterman built a national profile for his blunt style, work boots/hoodie aesthetic, and aggressive online persona. Policy- wise, he talks a lot about unions, criminal justice reform, legal weed, trade enforcement, and rural broadband — trying to stitch together blue-collar Democrats, younger progressives, and disaffected independents.
Moderate Democrat
Achievements
- Championed criminal justice reform, including second-chance sentencing and clemency review work in Pennsylvania
- Advocated targeted economic relief and investment in post-industrial towns and union-heavy regions
- Backed expanded mental health and veterans’ healthcare access
- Prioritized broadband, infrastructure, and rural access to basic services
- National messenger for pro-labor, pro-made-in-America manufacturing policy
Controversies
- Faced intense scrutiny over health and fitness for office after his 2022 stroke and subsequent auditory processing challenges
- Criticized by Republicans as too progressive on criminal justice and drug policy
- Sometimes clashes with left and right alike because of blunt, very online rhetoric
- Has broken with parts of the progressive base on selected foreign policy and border messaging, drawing fire from both directions
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| JStreetPAC | $175,021 | $175,021 | $0 |
| Google Inc | $158,296 | $158,296 | $0 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $136,216 | $136,216 | $0 |
| Penn State University | $98,168 | $98,168 | $0 |
| University of Pittsburgh | $97,684 | $97,684 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2022 Margin D +4.9%