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