History of John Fetterman in Timeline
John Fetterman is an American politician currently serving as a United States Senator for Pennsylvania since 2023. As a member of the Democratic Party, his political career includes serving as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019. Subsequently, he held the position of the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 until his election to the Senate in 2023.
August 15, 1969: John Fetterman Born
On August 15, 1969, John Karl Fetterman was born. He is an American politician who has served as a United States senator from Pennsylvania since 2023.
1991: Graduated from Albright College
In 1991, John Fetterman graduated from Albright College with a bachelor's degree in finance.
1993: Received MBA from University of Connecticut
In 1993, John Fetterman received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Connecticut (UConn).
1995: Joined AmeriCorps
In 1995, John Fetterman joined AmeriCorps, teaching Pittsburgh students pursuing their GEDs.
1996: Pennsylvania Law Banned Same-Sex Marriage
In 1996, Pennsylvania law banned same-sex marriage which John Fetterman defied starting in 2013.
1999: Graduated from Harvard Kennedy School
In 1999, John Fetterman graduated from Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University with a Master of Public Policy degree.
2001: Started Out-of-School-Youth Program in Braddock
In 2001, John Fetterman came to Braddock to start an Out-of-School-Youth Program, helping local youth to earn their GEDs.
2004: Cox Arrested
In 2004, Jayme Cox, who was Fetterman's opponent in the 2009 Democratic primary, was arrested and this information was later revealed by Fetterman during the campaign.
2004: Moved to Braddock
In 2004, John Fetterman moved to Braddock, Pennsylvania, where he later became mayor and focused on revitalizing the town through art and youth programs.
2005: Won election for mayor of Braddock
In 2005, John Fetterman ran for and won the election for mayor of Braddock after winning the Democratic primary by a single vote and running unopposed in the general election.
2006: Became Mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania
In 2006, John Fetterman became the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, a position he held until 2019.
2006: Opposed Mon-Fayette Expressway Expansion
In 2006, John Fetterman opposed the expansion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, arguing it would destroy Braddock.
2007: Meeting Gisele Barreto Almeida
In 2007, Gisele Barreto Almeida contacted Fetterman after learning about his work as mayor of Braddock. This initial contact led to a meeting and eventually, a relationship.
2008: Allegheny County Sues Fetterman and Braddock Redux
In 2008, Allegheny County sued Fetterman and his nonprofit, Braddock Redux, for $25,000 in unpaid taxes, resulting in a tax lien against them.
February 25, 2009: Appeared on The Colbert Report
On February 25, 2009, John Fetterman appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss Braddock's economic difficulties and the potential use of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
2009: Called "America's Coolest Mayor"
In 2009, John Fetterman was called "America's coolest mayor" in an article published by The Guardian.
2009: Won Democratic Primary for Braddock Mayor Amidst Controversy
In 2009, during the Democratic primary for mayor of Braddock, John Fetterman was criticized by Jayme Cox for failing to build consensus and abusing his power, however, Fetterman won the primary 294 to 103.
2009: Town council attempted to remove Fetterman from meeting.
In 2009, members of the Braddock town council attempted to have John Fetterman removed from a town council meeting after he criticized a political opponent.
November 2010: Sought to Close Braddock Nightclub
Also in November 2010, John Fetterman took a leading role in trying to close down Club 804, a Braddock nightclub he described as a public nuisance after a shooting occurred there.
November 2010: Arrested Protesting Braddock Hospital Closure
In November 2010, John Fetterman was arrested for protesting the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's closure of Braddock Hospital, the town's largest employer.
2010: Levi Strauss & Company Donated to Braddock's Revitalization
In 2010, Levi Strauss & Company donated money towards Braddock's revitalization and featured the town in an advertising campaign and documentary produced by the Sundance Channel.
2012: Payment of Unpaid Taxes
In 2012, Fetterman paid off the $25,000 in unpaid taxes owed by him and his nonprofit, Braddock Redux, resolving the tax lien issue.
2012: Cast Only One Vote as Mayor
In 2012, John Fetterman cast his only vote during his tenure as mayor to help the borough council choose a president.
January 2013: Detained Unarmed Jogger with Shotgun
In January 2013, John Fetterman detained an unarmed Black American jogger, Chris Miyares, with a shotgun in North Braddock, leading to controversy.
2013: Filming Out of the Furnace in Braddock
In 2013, Fetterman collaborated with Christian Bale and director Scott Cooper during the filming of "Out of the Furnace" in Braddock, where Fetterman was mayor.
2013: Established Superior Motors Restaurant
In 2013, John Fetterman and celebrity chef Kevin Sousa established Superior Motors, a restaurant in Braddock.
2013: Won Democratic Primaries for Mayor
In 2013, John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primaries for mayor of Braddock, and was unopposed in the general election.
2013: Began Marrying LGBT Couples
Starting in 2013, John Fetterman began defying a 1996 Pennsylvania law and began to marry LGBT couples inside his home.
2015: Received Payments from Father
In 2015, John Fetterman received $54,000 from his father to help subsidize his mayoral position, which only paid $150 per month.
2015: The Patriot-News labels Fetterman a "skeptic of free trade"
In 2015, The Patriot-News characterized Fetterman as a "skeptic of free trade" due to his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and his non-interventionist stance, highlighting his views on America's role in global affairs.
2016: Ran for U.S. Senate
In 2016, John Fetterman ran for the U.S. Senate but finished third in the Democratic primary.
November 14, 2017: Announced Candidacy for Lieutenant Governor
On November 14, 2017, John Fetterman announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
2017: Won Democratic Primaries for Mayor
In 2017, John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primaries for mayor of Braddock, and was unopposed in the general election.
2017: Initial Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis
In 2017, John Fetterman received a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation but did not consistently follow up with medical care or take prescribed medications following the initial diagnosis.
2017: Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation
In 2017, John Fetterman was hospitalized and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and a decreased heart pump function by cardiologist Ramesh Chandra. This diagnosis remained private until after his stroke in 2022.
2017: Restaurant Opened
In 2017, Superior Motors, a restaurant established by John Fetterman and Kevin Sousa, opened in Braddock.
November 6, 2018: Elected Lieutenant Governor
On November 6, 2018, John Fetterman and Tom Wolf defeated the Republican ticket in the general election, leading to Fetterman's election as Lieutenant Governor.
2018: Public Discussion of Weight Loss
In 2018, Fetterman publicly discussed his weight loss, revealing he had lost approximately 150 pounds after previously weighing over 400 pounds.
2018: Elected Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
In 2018, John Fetterman was elected Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, defeating incumbent Mike Stack in the Democratic primary and winning the general election alongside Governor Tom Wolf.
2018: Criticism of Fetterman's Mayoral Tenure
In 2018, Tony Buba, a Braddock-based filmmaker, critiqued John Fetterman's mayoral tenure, noting that Braddock's population had stagnated and the average income remained low despite some growth.
January 15, 2019: Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor
On January 15, 2019, John Fetterman was sworn into office as the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Wolf tasked him with exploring the legalization of marijuana statewide.
January 2019: Start of Light Work Schedule as Lieutenant Governor
Starting in January 2019, John Fetterman began his tenure as lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania with a light work schedule.
June 4, 2019: Collapse While Presiding Over the State Senate
On June 4, 2019, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Fetterman "collapsed" while presiding over the State Senate. He became wobbly and grabbed the lectern to prevent himself from falling over, and was examined by nursing staff. His spokesperson later attributed it to overheating.
2019: Became Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
In 2019, John Fetterman became the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, serving until 2023.
November 2020: Called Trump an Internet Troll
In November 2020, John Fetterman responded to Donald Trump's threats of lawsuits alleging voter fraud in Pennsylvania by calling him "no different than any other random internet troll".
2020: Attended Half of Senate Sessions
In 2020, John Fetterman attended only half of the Pennsylvania State Senate sessions, an official duty of the lieutenant governor.
2020: Received PPP Loan for Restaurant
In 2020, Superior Motors, a restaurant established by John Fetterman and Kevin Sousa, received a Paycheck Protection Program loan for $190,000.
2021: Miyares Commented on Incident
In 2021, Chris Miyares wrote that John Fetterman had "lied about everything" regarding the January 2013 incident, but also expressed that Fetterman had "done far more good than that one bad act."
2021: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate
In 2021, John Fetterman announced his candidacy for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania.
2021: Attended a Third of Senate Sessions
In 2021, John Fetterman attended only a third of the Pennsylvania State Senate sessions.
2021: Restaurant Closed Amid Pandemic
In 2021, Superior Motors closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 13, 2022: Hospitalization for Ischemic Stroke
On May 13, 2022, Fetterman was hospitalized after suffering an ischemic stroke caused by a clot related to his atrial fibrillation. Doctors implanted a pacemaker and defibrillator to address his condition.
May 2022: Review of Fetterman's Schedule
By May 2022, an Associated Press review revealed that John Fetterman's official schedule as lieutenant governor was blank for one-third of workdays.
May 2022: Fetterman Suffers a Stroke
In May 2022, John Fetterman suffered a stroke, which led to the public disclosure of his prior diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and decreased heart pump function. He was hospitalized for treatment.
May 22, 2022: Discharge from Hospital
On May 22, 2022, Fetterman was discharged from the hospital after being treated for an ischemic stroke, which had occurred on May 13, 2022.
June 2022: Medical Update Following Stroke
In June 2022, following his stroke, Dr. Chandra reported that Fetterman was "well compensated and stable," emphasizing the importance of medication, a healthy diet, and exercise for his recovery.
October 2022: Medical Update on Fetterman's Condition
In October 2022, Fetterman's primary care physician provided a medical update, noting that Fetterman "spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits", demonstrated improved communication, and had no work restrictions, despite symptoms of an auditory processing disorder from his stroke, which he managed with speech therapy, exercise, and medication.
December 2022: Posting a Photo with Christian Bale on the set of The Pale Blue Eye
In December 2022, Fetterman posted a photo with his wife and actor Christian Bale on the set of the film "The Pale Blue Eye," in which he made a cameo appearance. This followed his earlier collaboration with Bale and director Scott Cooper in 2013 during the filming of "Out of the Furnace" in Braddock.
2022: Won U.S. Senate Election
In 2022, John Fetterman won the U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania, defeating Republican nominee Mehmet Oz with 51% of the vote.
February 8, 2023: Hospitalization After Feeling Lightheaded
On February 8, 2023, Fetterman was hospitalized overnight after experiencing lightheadedness during a U.S. Senate retreat. His office stated that this hospitalization was not related to his previous stroke.
February 16, 2023: Admission to Walter Reed Hospital for Depression
On February 16, 2023, Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed Hospital for treatment of clinical depression, with an expected stay of less than two months. He was later discharged on March 31 and returned to the Senate on April 17.
2023: Became US Senator
In 2023, John Fetterman began serving as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania.
March 26, 2024: Fetterman denounces Biden administration
On March 26, 2024, John Fetterman and Representative Josh Gottheimer publicly denounced the Biden administration for not voting against a U.N. Security Council resolution. The resolution called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, the release of all hostages, and a path towards a sustainable ceasefire.
June 9, 2024: Involvement in a Two-Car Crash
On June 9, 2024, Fetterman and his wife were involved in a two-car crash in Maryland. Both were hospitalized and quickly released. Fetterman was found to be at fault for rear-ending another vehicle while speeding.
June 2024: Fetterman Visits Israel, Meets with Leaders
In June 2024, John Fetterman visited Israel and engaged in meetings with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu stated that "Israel has had no better friend" than Fetterman.
November 5, 2024: Fetterman Disrupts Jon Stewart's Election Special
On November 5, 2024, John Fetterman disrupted Jon Stewart's live election special on The Daily Show by canceling a scheduled interview just 30 seconds before it was set to air.
January 2025: Co-sponsorship of the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)
In January 2025, John Fetterman co-sponsored the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which aimed to set a minimum age of 13 for social media use and prevent social media companies from showing algorithmically targeted content to users under 17.
January 2025: Fetterman Votes to Sanction International Criminal Court
In January 2025, John Fetterman was the only Democratic senator who voted with all Republicans for cloture on a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court in response to its warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant.
February 2025: Fetterman Supports U.S. Troops in Gaza
In February 2025, John Fetterman stated that he would "fully support" U.S. troops in Gaza after President Trump proposed that the U.S. should own the Gaza Strip. He called the proposal "provocative" but said it was part of the conversation.
March 2025: Fetterman Votes Against Bill on Transgender Athletes
In March 2025, John Fetterman joined every other Senate Democrat in voting against a bill that aimed to ban trans girls and women from participating in women's sports. Fetterman stated that he believes the transgender athletes in Pennsylvania deserve an ally.
March 2025: Fetterman Votes for Cloture on Republican Funding Bill
In March 2025, John Fetterman was one of nine Senate Democrats who voted for cloture on a Republican-led stopgap funding bill in order to avoid a federal government shutdown. He criticized fellow Democrats for pandering to the left wing.
2025: Became Pennsylvania's Senior Senator
In 2025, John Fetterman became Pennsylvania's senior senator following the defeat of Bob Casey Jr.
2025: Fetterman Votes for Laken Riley Act
In 2025, John Fetterman was one of 12 Senate Democrats who joined all Republicans in voting for the Laken Riley Act.
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