John Karl Fetterman

Democrat junior Senator of Pennsylvania

  • Senator

    Pennsylvania

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2029

1

Congresses Served

1

Senate Terms

August 15, 1969 (55 years old)

Birthday

  • Served as the junior United States senator from Pennsylvania since 2023
  • Former mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania (2006-2019)
  • Served as the 34th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania (2019-2023)
  • Initially identified as a progressive but later renounced the label
  • Advocates for healthcare as a right, criminal justice reform, abolishing capital punishment, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, and legalizing cannabis
  • Holds degrees in finance from Albright College, an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University
  • Worked in the insurance industry before joining AmeriCorps and moving to Braddock to start a youth program
  • Ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2016 but won the Democratic nomination and general election in 2022
  • Received national attention as lieutenant governor for efforts to legalize cannabis statewide and opposition to false claims of election fraud
  • Has tattoos representing Braddock’s ZIP code and the dates of murders that occurred in the town during his mayoral tenure
  • Involved in a controversial incident where he detained an unarmed jogger with a shotgun, believing he had heard gunfire
  • Known for revitalizing Braddock through youth and art programs, and for his efforts to attract new residents to the town
  • Criticized for his handling of a nightclub deemed a public nuisance and for his contentious relationship with the town council
  • As lieutenant governor, conducted a statewide tour to discuss marijuana legalization and defied a law by flying pride and marijuana flags from his office
  • His work schedule and attendance at official state business as lieutenant governor were scrutinized for being light and often absent
  • Chaired the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, advocating for increased commutations and pardons
  • Publicly criticized Donald Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election
  • Described as having an unorthodox brand of blue-collar liberalism with a dash of outsider populism
  • Supports Medicare for All, a wealth tax, and greater restrictions on gun purchases, among other positions
  • Married with three children, known for his casual style of dress, and has struggled with depression and health issues related to a stroke and heart condition