History of John Fetterman in Timeline

John Fetterman is an American politician currently serving as a U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania since 2023. A Democrat, he previously served as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019, and as the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 to 2023. His political career has primarily been focused on representing the state of Pennsylvania in various capacities.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

August 15, 1969: John Fetterman's Birth

On August 15, 1969, John Karl Fetterman was born. He is now the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania.

Others born on this day/year

1991: Graduation from Albright College

In 1991, John Fetterman graduated from Albright College with a bachelor's degree in finance.

1993: Received MBA from UConn

In 1993, John Fetterman received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Connecticut (UConn).

1995: Joined AmeriCorps

In 1995, after a corporate career at Chubb, John Fetterman joined AmeriCorps and was sent to teach Pittsburgh students pursuing their GEDs.

1996: Pennsylvania Law Banning Same-Sex Marriage

In 1996, a Pennsylvania law was passed that 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: Creation of Braddock Out-of-School-Youth Program

In 2001, John Fetterman led the creation of the Braddock Out-of-School-Youth Program, aimed at helping local youth earn their GEDs.

2004: Arrest of Jayme Cox

In 2004, Jayme Cox was arrested, and John Fetterman later released non-public records of the arrest during a campaign, which was deemed an abuse of power.

2004: Fetterman Moves to Braddock

In 2004, John Fetterman moved to Braddock, Pennsylvania, after his service with AmeriCorps led him there.

2005: Elected Mayor of Braddock

In 2005, John Fetterman ran for mayor of Braddock against the incumbent, Pauline Abdullah. He won the Democratic primary by a single vote and subsequently won the general election.

2006: Opposition to Expressway Expansion

In 2006, John Fetterman opposed the expansion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, arguing that it would destroy the town of Braddock.

February 25, 2009: Appearance on the Colbert Report

On February 25, 2009, John Fetterman appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss Braddock's economic difficulties and questioned why American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds could not be used to support projects in the town.

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2009: Profiled as 'America's Coolest Mayor'

In 2009, John Fetterman was called "America's coolest mayor" in an article in The Guardian due to his revitalization efforts.

2009: Re-election Campaign for Mayor of Braddock

In 2009, during his campaign for re-election as mayor of Braddock, John Fetterman faced criticism from Jayme Cox. Fetterman was also criticized for releasing non-public records that showed Cox was arrested in 2004. Despite the criticism, Fetterman defeated Cox in the primary and was unopposed in the general election.

2009: Contentious Relationship with Town Council

In 2009, during his tenure as mayor, John Fetterman had a contentious relationship with the Braddock town council. Members attempted to have him removed from a meeting and cited for an occupancy permit violation.

November 2010: Efforts to Close Nightclub

Also in November 2010, John Fetterman took a leading role in trying to close down Club 804, a Braddock nightclub, after a shooting occurred there.

November 2010: Arrested at Protest

In November 2010, John Fetterman was arrested and immediately released for protesting the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's closure of Braddock Hospital.

2010: Levi Strauss & Company Donation

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: Mayoral Vote

In 2012, John Fetterman cast only one vote during his tenure as mayor, voting to help the borough council choose a president.

January 2013: Shotgun Incident with Jogger

In January 2013, John Fetterman detained an unarmed Black jogger, Chris Miyares, with a shotgun in North Braddock after mistaking the sound of bottle rockets for gunfire. Fetterman denies pointing the gun at Miyares.

2013: Filming Out of the Furnace

In 2013, Fetterman worked with actor Christian Bale and director Scott Cooper when they filmed the movie "Out of the Furnace" in Braddock.

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2013: Established Superior Motors Restaurant

In 2013, John Fetterman and chef Kevin Sousa established Superior Motors, a restaurant in Braddock, aiming to revitalize the town by providing a dining establishment. Fetterman bought a former car dealership as the site for the new restaurant.

2013: Won Democratic Primary

In 2013, John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primary 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 started to marry LGBT couples inside his home.

September 14, 2015: Fetterman Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate

On September 14, 2015, John Fetterman declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in the 2016 election, then held by Pat Toomey. Despite being considered a long shot against better-known candidates, he received endorsements from prominent figures.

2015: Financial Support from Father

In 2015, John Fetterman received $54,000 from his father to subsidize him financially due to the low salary of the Braddock mayor position.

2016: U.S. Senate Run

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 that he would run for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

2017: Won Democratic Primary

In 2017, John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primary for mayor of Braddock and was unopposed in the general election.

2017: Superior Motors Opens

In 2017, Superior Motors restaurant opened in Braddock. The restaurant was established by John Fetterman and chef Kevin Sousa.

November 6, 2018: Wolf and Fetterman Win Election

On November 6, 2018, Tom Wolf and John Fetterman defeated the Republican ticket of Scott Wagner and Jeff Bartos in the general election, marking their victory.

2018: Election as Lieutenant Governor

In 2018, John Fetterman was elected as the 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, criticized John Fetterman's mayoral tenure, pointing out that Braddock's population had stagnated and the average income remained low despite Fetterman's efforts.

January 15, 2019: Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor

On January 15, 2019, John Fetterman was sworn into office as the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, succeeding Mike Stack. Governor Tom Wolf tasked him with exploring the legalization of marijuana statewide.

January 2019: Start of Light Work Schedule

Starting in January 2019 after his inauguration as Lieutenant Governor, John Fetterman maintained a light work schedule often being absent from official state business.

November 2020: Criticism of Donald Trump

In November 2020, John Fetterman criticized Donald Trump, referring to him as "no different than any other random internet troll" in response to Trump's threats to file lawsuits in Pennsylvania over alleged voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

2020: Limited Attendance in Senate Sessions

In 2020, John Fetterman attended only half of the Senate's sessions while serving as lieutenant governor.

2020: Superior Motors Received PPP Loan

In 2020, Superior Motors received a Paycheck Protection Program loan for $190,000.

January 2021: Fetterman Announces Exploratory Committee

In January 2021, John Fetterman announced the launch of an exploratory committee in preparation for a potential run in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania.

February 4, 2021: Fetterman Files Candidacy Statement

On February 4, 2021, John Fetterman officially filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, declaring his intention to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pat Toomey in the 2022 election.

February 8, 2021: Fetterman Officially Enters Senate Race

On February 8, 2021, John Fetterman officially entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania, which was being vacated by Senator Toomey.

2021: Miyares Comments on Incident

In 2021, Chris Miyares wrote that John Fetterman had "lied about everything" regarding the 2013 shotgun incident but believed that Fetterman had "done far more good than that one bad act" and should not be defined by it.

2021: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate

In 2021, John Fetterman announced his candidacy in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania.

2021: Limited Attendance in Senate Sessions

In 2021, John Fetterman attended only a third of the Senate's sessions while serving as lieutenant governor.

2021: Superior Motors Closes

In 2021, Superior Motors restaurant closed in Braddock amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant was established by John Fetterman and chef Kevin Sousa.

May 2022: Review Finds Light Work Schedule

An Associated Press review through May 2022, found that John Fetterman's official schedule was blank for one-third of workdays during his tenure as lieutenant governor, and he was often absent from presiding over the Pennsylvania State Senate.

December 2022: Fetterman Appears in "The Pale Blue Eye"

In December 2022, Fetterman made a cameo appearance in the 2022 film "The Pale Blue Eye". He also posted a photo with his wife and actor Christian Bale on the movie set.

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2022: Election to the U.S. Senate

In 2022, John Fetterman won the Democratic nomination and defeated Republican nominee Mehmet Oz in the general election, securing his position in the U.S. Senate.

February 8, 2023: Fetterman hospitalized after feeling lightheaded

On February 8, 2023, John Fetterman was hospitalized overnight after experiencing lightheadedness during a U.S. Senate retreat. His office indicated he was in good spirits, and his hospitalization was unrelated to his previous stroke.

February 10, 2023: Fetterman Hospitalized for Syncope

On February 10, 2023, John Fetterman was hospitalized for two days due to syncope, which is lightheadedness.

February 16, 2023: Fetterman checks into Walter Reed for clinical depression

On February 16, 2023, John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed Hospital for treatment of clinical depression. An aide mentioned that he would likely remain hospitalized for less than two months.

April 17, 2023: Fetterman Returns to Senate Committee

On April 17, 2023, John Fetterman returned to the Senate to chair the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry subcommittee on food and nutrition, specialty crops, organics and research. Despite some vocal challenges, he emphasized the importance of fighting hunger.

September 2023: Senate dress code relaxed and reversed due to Fetterman's casual style

In September 2023, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer relaxed the Senate dress code due to Fetterman's casual style. Later in September 2023, the Senate reversed this decision, unanimously passing the "SHORTS Act" to establish the Senate's first official dress code, referencing Fetterman's trademark outfit.

May 2024: Concerns raised over Fetterman's mental health

In May 2024, Fetterman's chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, expressed concern over Fetterman's mental health and erratic behavior in a letter to Walter Reed Hospital director David Williamson. Jentleson cited "conspiratorial thinking", "megalomania", rambling monologues, reckless driving, obvious lies, avoidance of medical checkups, and pushing away support as causes for concern.

June 9, 2024: Fetterman Involved in Car Crash

On June 9, 2024, John Fetterman and his wife were involved in a two-car crash in Maryland. Both were hospitalized and released quickly. Fetterman was found at fault for rear-ending another vehicle while speeding.

June 2024: Fetterman visits Israel, meets with Herzog and Netanyahu

In June 2024, John Fetterman visited Israel and met with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu stated that "Israel has had no better friend" than Fetterman, highlighting Fetterman's staunch support for Israel.

November 5, 2024: Fetterman Disrupts Jon Stewart's Live Election Special

On November 5, 2024, John Fetterman disrupted Jon Stewart's live election special on The Daily Show by canceling an interview with only 30 seconds' notice.