History of John Fetterman in Timeline
John Fetterman is an American politician currently serving as the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania since 2023. As a member of the Democratic Party, Fetterman previously served as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019. He then served as the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 until assuming his senatorial role in 2023. His political career has been marked by his focus on issues relevant to working-class communities.
August 15, 1969: John Fetterman Born
On August 15, 1969, John Karl Fetterman was born. He is now the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania.
1991: Graduated 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, John Fetterman joined AmeriCorps and was sent to teach Pittsburgh students pursuing their GEDs.
1996: Pennsylvania law banned same-sex marriage
In 1996, a Pennsylvania law banned same-sex marriage
1999: Graduated from Harvard
In 1999, John Fetterman graduated from Harvard Kennedy School with a Master of Public Policy degree.
2001: Started Youth Program
In 2001, John Fetterman came to Braddock to start an Out-of-School-Youth Program, helping local youth to earn their GEDs.
2004: Moved to Braddock
In 2004, John Fetterman moved to Braddock after his service with AmeriCorps.
2004: Cox Arrest Record Released
In 2004, John Fetterman, then Mayor of Braddock, released a non-public arrest record of Jayme Cox.
2005: Elected Mayor of Braddock
In 2005, John Fetterman won the Democratic primary for mayor of Braddock by a single vote and then won the general election unopposed.
2006: Mayor of Braddock
In 2006, John Fetterman became the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania.
2006: Opposed Expressway Expansion
In 2006, John Fetterman opposed the expansion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, arguing it would harm Braddock.
2007: Gisele Barreto Wrote to Fetterman
In 2007, Gisele Barreto, who would later become John Fetterman's wife, wrote him a letter after hearing about his work as mayor of Braddock.
2008: Tax Lien Lawsuit
In 2008, Allegheny County sued John Fetterman and his nonprofit Braddock Redux for unpaid taxes, resulting in a $25,000 tax lien.
2009: Mayoral Primary Win
In 2009, John Fetterman defeated Jayme Cox in the Democratic primary for mayor despite criticism for releasing Cox's arrest records.
2009: Town Council Conflict
In 2009, John Fetterman had conflicts with the Braddock town council, leading to attempts to remove him from a meeting and cite him for an occupancy permit violation.
November 2010: Sought to Close Nightclub
In November 2010, John Fetterman took a leading role in trying to close down Club 804, a Braddock nightclub.
November 2010: Arrested at Protest
In November 2010, John Fetterman was arrested and immediately released for protesting the closure of Braddock Hospital.
2010: Mention of Joe Sestak
In 2010, Joe Sestak was the Democratic nominee for Senate, he would later run against John Fetterman for Senate in 2016.
2012: Voted Once as Mayor
In 2012, John Fetterman cast his only vote during his tenure as mayor to help the borough council choose a president.
2012: Paid Off Unpaid Taxes
In 2012, John Fetterman paid off the unpaid taxes from the 2008 tax lien lawsuit.
January 2013: Shotgun Incident
In January 2013, John Fetterman detained an unarmed jogger with a shotgun in North Braddock, leading to controversy.
2013: Established Restaurant in Braddock
In 2013, John Fetterman and Kevin Sousa established Superior Motors restaurant in Braddock.
2013: Filming "Out of the Furnace" in Braddock
In 2013, John Fetterman collaborated with Christian Bale and director Scott Cooper during the filming of "Out of the Furnace" in Braddock.
2013: Won Mayoral Primaries
John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primaries in 2013 and was unopposed in the general election.
2013: Began Marrying LGBT Couples
Starting in 2013, John Fetterman began defying a 1996 Pennsylvania law that banned same-sex marriage and started marrying LGBT couples.
September 14, 2015: Announced Candidacy for U.S. Senate
On September 14, 2015, John Fetterman announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Pat Toomey in the 2016 election.
2015: Financial Support from Father
In 2015, John Fetterman received $54,000 from his father to subsidize his low-paying position as mayor.
2015: Skeptic of Free Trade
In 2015, John Fetterman was described as a "skeptic of free trade", given his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and a non-interventionist.
2016: Senate Run
In 2016, John Fetterman ran for U.S. Senate, finishing 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: Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation
In 2017, John Fetterman was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and a decreased heart pump during hospitalization for swelling feet, though this wasn't publicly known until his stroke in 2022.
2017: Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis
In 2017, John Fetterman was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation but did not seek medical attention or continue medication for five years, which he later regretted.
2017: Restaurant Opened
In 2017, the restaurant Superior Motors opened in Braddock.
2017: Won Mayoral Primaries
John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primaries in 2017 and was unopposed in the general election.
November 6, 2018: Won Election
On November 6, 2018, Tom Wolf and John Fetterman defeated the Republican ticket of Scott Wagner and Jeff Bartos in the general election.
2018: Publicly Spoke About Weight Loss
In 2018, John Fetterman spoke publicly about his substantial weight loss of approximately 150 pounds.
2018: Elected Lieutenant Governor
In 2018, John Fetterman was elected lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, defeating incumbent Mike Stack in the Democratic primary.
January 15, 2019: Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor
On January 15, 2019, John Fetterman was sworn into office as the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
January 2019: Began Term
Starting in January 2019, John Fetterman's official schedule as lieutenant governor was often blank, and he frequently missed Senate sessions.
June 4, 2019: Collapse While Presiding Over State Senate
On June 4, 2019, John Fetterman "collapsed" while presiding over the State Senate, becoming wobbly and grabbing the lectern to prevent himself from falling over.
2019: Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
In 2019, John Fetterman became the 34th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.
November 2020: Called Trump "Internet Troll"
In November 2020, John Fetterman said Donald Trump was "no different than any other random internet troll" in response to election fraud claims.
2020: Limited Attendance
In 2020, John Fetterman only attended half of the Senate's sessions as lieutenant governor.
2020: Received PPP loan
In 2020, Superior Motors received a Paycheck Protection Program loan for $190,000.
2020: Response to Voter Fraud Allegations
In 2020, amidst claims of voter fraud in Pennsylvania, John Fetterman responded by sarcastically certifying that three cases of voter fraud were discovered, involving individuals casting ballots on behalf of dead relatives or twice, all for Trump. He lampooned the situation, drawing nationwide publicity.
January 2021: Launched Exploratory Committee for Senate Election
In January 2021, John Fetterman announced he was launching an exploratory committee for the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania.
February 4, 2021: Filed Candidacy Statement for Senate
On February 4, 2021, John Fetterman filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission declaring his intention to run for the Senate seat.
February 8, 2021: Officially Entered Senate Race
On February 8, 2021, John Fetterman officially entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Toomey.
February 2021: Support for Green Ideal
In February 2021, John Fetterman told MSNBC, "I'm embracing what the green ideal considers a priority… the Green New Deal isn't a specific piece of legislation. What I am in support of is acknowledging that the climate crisis is absolutely real."
2021: Announced Senate Candidacy
In 2021, John Fetterman announced his candidacy in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania.
2021: Limited Attendance
In 2021, John Fetterman only attended a third of the Senate's sessions as lieutenant governor.
2021: Support of "de facto moratorium" on fracking
In 2021, John Fetterman said that he supports moving towards a "de facto moratorium [on fracking] because the transition is going to be toward green and renewable energy".
2021: Restaurant Closed
In 2021, the restaurant Superior Motors closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 13, 2022: Hospitalized after ischemic stroke
On May 13, 2022, John Fetterman had an ischemic stroke and was hospitalized.
May 2022: Absenteeism
From his inauguration in January 2019 until May 2022, John Fetterman's official schedule was blank for one-third of workdays.
May 2022: Stance on Abortion
In May 2022, during a Democratic primary debate, John Fetterman stated his position that abortion is a matter between a woman and her physician, opposing any legal restrictions, including in the third trimester.
May 22, 2022: Discharged from Hospital
On May 22, 2022, John Fetterman was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for the ischemic stroke.
June 2022: Doctor's Assessment of Fetterman's Health
In June 2022, a doctor wrote that Fetterman was "well compensated and stable" and would be fine if he maintained his health regimen, following his recent health challenges.
August 2022: First Public Appearance After Stroke
In August 2022, John Fetterman made his first public appearance at a rally in Erie after recovering from a stroke.
September 2022: Debate Challenge and Agreement
In September 2022, Mehmet Oz challenged John Fetterman to a debate, which Fetterman eventually agreed to, setting the debate for October 25th.
October 2022: Medical Update on Fetterman's Recovery
In October 2022, Fetterman's primary care physician reported significant improvement in his communication and cognitive abilities, noting his commitment to speech therapy, exercise, and medication, and stating that he had no work restrictions.
December 2022: Fetterman Posts Photo with Christian Bale
In December 2022, John Fetterman posted a photo of himself and his wife with actor Christian Bale on the set of "The Pale Blue Eye", after making a cameo appearance in the movie.
2022: U.S. Senate Election
In 2022, John Fetterman ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.
2022: Political Identity
In 2022, John Fetterman stated that he was "just a Democrat", explaining that many parts of his platform that were once considered progressive are now mainstream beliefs of the party.
January 3, 2023: Took Office as Senator
On January 3, 2023, John Fetterman took office as a U.S. Senator, becoming the tallest currently serving senator.
February 8, 2023: Fetterman Hospitalized After Feeling Lightheaded
On February 8, 2023, John Fetterman was hospitalized overnight after feeling lightheaded during a U.S. Senate retreat. His office stated he was in good spirits and that the hospitalization was unrelated to his previous stroke.
February 10, 2023: Hospitalized for Syncope
On February 10, 2023, John Fetterman was hospitalized for syncope (lightheadedness) for two days.
February 2023: First Agriculture Committee Hearing
In February 2023, John Fetterman attended his first Agriculture Committee hearing, where he asked questions about trade and organic farming.
February 16, 2023: Fetterman Checks into Walter Reed for Depression Treatment
On February 16, 2023, John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed Hospital to receive treatment for clinical depression.
April 17, 2023: Returned to Senate to Chair Subcommittee
On April 17, 2023, John Fetterman returned to the Senate to chair the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry subcommittee.
2023: Steadfast Support for Israel
During the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, John Fetterman continued his steadfast support for Israel, placing blame for the conflict entirely on Hamas. Some commentators have said that his views on Israel have shifted to the right since the conflict's inception and become more in line with those of Republicans.
2023: Became US Senator
In 2023, John Fetterman became the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania.
2023: Rejection of Progressive Label
In 2023, John Fetterman rejected the progressive label again, leading to NBC News characterizing his ideology as an "unorthodox brand of blue-collar liberalism, with a dash of outsider populism."
2023: Voted against amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act
In 2023, John Fetterman voted against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have clarified that Article 5 of the NATO treaty does not obviate the need for Congress to declare war.
2023: Voted Against Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, John Fetterman voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 due to concerns over new SNAP requirements.
June 9, 2024: Fetterman Involved in Two-Car Crash
On June 9, 2024, John Fetterman and his wife were involved in a two-car crash in Maryland. They were hospitalized and quickly released, with Fetterman found at fault for rear-ending another vehicle while speeding.
June 2024: Visit to Israel
In June 2024, John Fetterman visited Israel and met with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said "Israel has had no better friend" than Fetterman.
November 5, 2024: Disrupted 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 30 seconds before it was scheduled to air.
2024: Expressed Willingness to Work with Trump
In 2024, after Donald Trump won the presidential election, John Fetterman expressed a willingness to work with Republicans and even visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago complex.
2024: Shift in Views on Israel
In 2024, commentators noted that John Fetterman's views on Israel had shifted to the right and were more in line with those of Republicans.
January 2025: Voted for cloture on bill to sanction the International Criminal Court
In January 2025, John Fetterman was the only Democratic senator to vote with all Republicans for cloture on a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court in response to its warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant.
2025: Cozying up to Trump
By early 2025, John Fetterman had made a number of moves some liberals criticized as cozying up to Trump.
2025: Became Senior Senator
In 2025, John Fetterman became Pennsylvania's senior senator following Bob Casey Jr.'s defeat.
2025: Voted for the Laken Riley Act
In 2025, John Fetterman was one of 12 Senate Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.
