History of John Fetterman in Timeline
John Fetterman is an American politician currently serving as the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Fetterman previously served as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019. Following his mayoral tenure, he served as the 34th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 to 2023, marking a continued presence in Pennsylvania's political landscape.
August 15, 1969: John Fetterman's Birth
On August 15, 1969, John Karl Fetterman was born. He is now a senior United States senator from Pennsylvania.
1991: Graduation from Albright College
In 1991, John Fetterman graduated from Albright College, his father's alma mater, with a bachelor's degree in finance.
1993: Receiving MBA from UConn
In 1993, John Fetterman received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Connecticut (UConn).
1995: Joining AmeriCorps
In 1995, John Fetterman joined the recently founded AmeriCorps and was sent to teach Pittsburgh students pursuing their GEDs.
1996: Pennsylvania Law Banning Same-Sex Marriage
Starting in 2013, John Fetterman began defying a 1996 Pennsylvania law that banned same-sex marriage.
1999: Graduation from Harvard
In 1999, John Fetterman graduated from Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University with a Master of Public Policy degree.
2001: Starting 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: Cox's Arrest
In 2004, Fetterman's opponent Jayme Cox was arrested, this information was then used during the election.
2004: Moving to Braddock
In 2004, John Fetterman moved to Braddock, Pennsylvania.
2005: Elected Mayor of Braddock
In 2005, John Fetterman ran for and won the election to become the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, defeating the incumbent, Pauline Abdullah.
2006: Opposing Expressway Expansion
In 2006, John Fetterman opposed the expansion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, arguing it would harm Braddock.
2007: Gisele Barreto Fetterman Writes a Letter
In 2007, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, then an undocumented immigrant, learned about John Fetterman's mayoral work in Braddock and wrote him a letter. This initial contact led to her visiting Braddock upon his invitation.
2008: Allegheny County Sues Fetterman and Braddock Redux
In 2008, Allegheny County sued John Fetterman and his nonprofit, Braddock Redux, for unpaid taxes, resulting in a tax lien of $25,000 being placed against them.
February 25, 2009: Appearance on The Colbert Report
On February 25, 2009, John Fetterman appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss Braddock's economic challenges and potential support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
2009: Primary Election Victory
In 2009, John Fetterman defeated Jayme Cox in the Democratic primary for mayor of Braddock, despite criticism and controversy.
2009: Town Council Disputes
In 2009, John Fetterman faced attempts to remove him from a town council meeting and faced code violation accusations, highlighting a contentious relationship with the Braddock town council.
2009: Dubbed "America's Coolest Mayor"
In 2009, John Fetterman was called "America's coolest mayor" in The Guardian for his efforts to revitalize Braddock.
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 released after protesting the closure of Braddock Hospital at the U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh.
2010: Mention of Joe Sestak's Senate Run
In 2010, Joe Sestak was the Democratic nominee for Senate. This run was referenced when Fetterman announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2015.
2012: Voting to Choose Council President
In 2012, John Fetterman cast his only vote during his tenure as mayor to help the borough council choose a president.
2012: Fetterman Pays Off Unpaid Taxes
In 2012, John Fetterman settled the unpaid tax lien of $25,000 that Allegheny County had placed against him and his nonprofit, Braddock Redux.
January 2013: Shotgun Incident
In January 2013, John Fetterman detained an unarmed jogger, Chris Miyares, with a shotgun in North Braddock, leading to controversy.
2013: Establishing Superior Motors
In 2013, John Fetterman and Kevin Sousa established Superior Motors, a restaurant in Braddock.
2013: Won Democratic Primary Unopposed
In 2013, John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primary for mayor of Braddock and was unopposed in the general election.
2013: Filming Out of the Furnace in Braddock
In 2013, John Fetterman worked with actor Christian Bale and director Scott Cooper during the filming of 'Out of the Furnace' in Braddock.
2013: 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: 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 in the 2016 election.
2015: Skepticism of Free Trade
In 2015, Fetterman was described as a "skeptic of free trade" due to his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
2016: U.S. Senate Election Run
In 2016, Fetterman's campaign for the U.S. Senate was considered a long shot against better-known candidates.
November 14, 2017: Announcing 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 Primary Unopposed
In 2017, John Fetterman handily won the Democratic primary for mayor of Braddock and was unopposed in the general election.
2017: Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation
In 2017, John Fetterman was hospitalized due to swollen feet and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and a decreased heart pump by cardiologist Ramesh Chandra, although this was not made public until 2022.
2017: Superior Motors Opens
In 2017, the restaurant Superior Motors opened, but closed in 2021.
November 6, 2018: Election as Lieutenant Governor
On November 6, 2018, John Fetterman and Tom Wolf defeated the Republican ticket of Scott Wagner and Jeff Bartos in the general election, making Fetterman the Lieutenant Governor.
2018: Public Discussion of Weight Loss
In 2018, John Fetterman publicly discussed his significant weight loss, revealing that he had lost approximately 150 pounds from a starting weight of over 400 pounds.
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: Start of Light Work Schedule
From John Fetterman's inauguration in January 2019 until May 2022, his official schedule as lieutenant governor was often blank, indicating a light work schedule.
June 4, 2019: Fetterman Collapses While Presiding Over State Senate
On June 4, 2019, John Fetterman reportedly "collapsed" while presiding over the State Senate, becoming wobbly and needing to grab the lectern. He was examined by the Capitol's nursing staff and attributed the incident to overheating.
November 2020: Response to Trump's Election Claims
In November 2020, John Fetterman responded to Donald Trump's voter fraud allegations in Pennsylvania by stating Trump was "no different than any other random internet troll".
2020: Superior Motors Receives Loan
In 2020, Superior Motors received a Paycheck Protection Program loan for $190,000.
2020: Response to 2020 Election Fraud Claims
In 2020, after Joe Biden won the presidential election in Pennsylvania and Trump claimed voter fraud, Fetterman responded to Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick's reward offer for proving fraud by pointing out three cases of voter fraud in Pennsylvania and sarcastically congratulating Trump on winning the "dead mother vote".
January 2021: Launched Exploratory Committee for U.S. 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 Seat
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 being vacated by Toomey.
February 8, 2021: Officially Entered Senate Race
On February 8, 2021, John Fetterman officially entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania.
February 2021: Support for Green New Deal Ideals
In February 2021, Fetterman expressed support for the ideals of the Green New Deal and acknowledged the reality of the climate crisis.
2021: Views on Fracking
In 2021, Fetterman expressed a mixed stance on fracking, supporting permitting but advocating stricter environmental regulations and a transition toward green energy.
2021: Superior Motors Closed
In 2021, Superior Motors restaurant closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 13, 2022: Fetterman Suffers Ischemic Stroke
On May 13, 2022, John Fetterman experienced an ischemic stroke due to a clot caused by atrial fibrillation, which resulted in his hospitalization. His doctors implanted a pacemaker and defibrillator due to cardiomyopathy.
May 2022: Fetterman's Stroke
In May 2022, John Fetterman suffered a stroke caused by a clot from atrial fibrillation. This led to the public disclosure of his 2017 heart condition diagnosis.
May 2022: Stance on Abortion Rights
In May 2022, during a Democratic primary debate, Fetterman stated that decisions regarding abortion should be between a woman and her physician, opposing any legal restrictions, including in the third trimester.
May 22, 2022: Fetterman Discharged From Hospital
On May 22, 2022, John Fetterman was discharged from the hospital after being treated for an ischemic stroke and receiving a pacemaker and defibrillator.
June 2022: Medical Update from Dr. Chandra
In a letter in early June 2022, Dr. Chandra reported that John Fetterman was "well compensated and stable" after his stroke, expecting a full recovery with medication, healthy eating, and exercise.
August 2022: First Public Appearance After Stroke
In August 2022, Fetterman made his first public appearance since recovering from a stroke at a rally in Erie. While he appeared physically healthy, his speech was sometimes halting.
September 2022: Negotiations for Debate with Oz
In September 2022, Oz challenged Fetterman to a debate before early voting. Fetterman agreed to a debate in October but did not commit to a specific date in September, drawing criticism and raising questions about his fitness to serve.
October 2022: Medical Update on Cognitive and Communication Improvement
In October 2022, John Fetterman's primary care physician provided a medical update, noting that Fetterman "spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits" and had significantly improved communication, despite auditory processing issues. He was attending speech therapy and had no work restrictions.
December 2022: Fetterman Posts Photo with Christian Bale on 'The Pale Blue Eye' Set
In December 2022, John Fetterman posted a photo of himself and his wife with actor Christian Bale on the set of the film 'The Pale Blue Eye', where Fetterman had a cameo appearance.
2022: U.S. Senate Election
In 2022, John Fetterman ran for U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania.
2022: Rejection of the Progressive Label
In 2022, while running for Senate, Fetterman stated he was "just a Democrat" and not a progressive, explaining that many parts of his platform once considered progressive are now mainstream.
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 that he was in "good spirits" and 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).
February 2023: Attended First Agriculture Committee Hearing
In February 2023, Fetterman attended his first Agriculture Committee hearing where he asked questions about trade and organic farming, though he stumbled slightly over his words.
February 16, 2023: Fetterman Checks Into Walter Reed for Clinical Depression
On February 16, 2023, John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed Hospital to receive treatment for clinical depression. He was expected to remain hospitalized for "likely less than two months."
April 17, 2023: Returned to the Senate to Chair Subcommittee
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. During the hearing his voice stumbled at times.
2023: Further Rejection of Progressive Label
In 2023, Fetterman again rejected the progressive label, leading NBC News to describe his ideology as an "unorthodox brand of blue-collar liberalism, with a dash of outsider populism."
2023: Vote on NATO Treaty Amendment
In 2023, 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 the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act due to concerns about new SNAP requirements.
June 9, 2024: Fetterman Involved in Two-Car Crash
On June 9, 2024, John Fetterman and his wife were hospitalized after a two-car crash in Maryland. They were quickly released, and Fetterman was found at fault for rear-ending another vehicle while speeding.
June 2024: Visit to Israel and Meeting with Leaders
In June 2024, Fetterman visited Israel and met with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised him as "Israel has had no better friend".
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 Post-Election
In 2024, after Donald Trump won the United States presidential election, Fetterman expressed willingness to vote for some of Trump's cabinet appointees and work with Republicans, leading to rumors about a potential party switch.
2024: Perceived Shift in Views on Israel
In 2024, some commentators observed that Fetterman's views on Israel were shifting to the right and becoming more aligned with those of Republicans.
January 2025: Co-sponsorship of Kids Off Social Media Act
In January 2025, Fetterman co-sponsored the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms.
January 2025: Vote on Sanctioning the International Criminal Court
In January 2025, 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.
February 2025: Support for U.S. Troops in Gaza
In February 2025, Fetterman stated that he would "fully support" U.S. troops in Gaza after President Trump made his Gaza Strip proposal.
March 2025: Vote Against Bill Banning Transgender Athletes
In March 2025, Fetterman joined every other Senate Democrat in voting against a bill that would ban trans girls and women from women's sports.
March 2025: Vote on Stopgap Funding Bill
In March 2025, Fetterman was one of nine Senate Democrats to vote for cloture for a Republican-led stopgap funding bill to avoid a federal government shutdown.
2025: Moves Perceived as Cozying Up to Trump
By early 2025, Fetterman had made several moves criticized as cozying up to Trump.
2025: Vote for the Laken Riley Act
In 2025, Fetterman was one of 12 Senate Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.
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