John Fetterman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Fetterman
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Official portrait, 2023
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| United States Senator from Pennsylvania |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2023 Serving with Dave McCormick
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| Preceded by | Pat Toomey |
| 34th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 15, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Governor | Tom Wolf |
| Preceded by | Mike Stack |
| Succeeded by | Kim Ward (acting) |
| Mayor of Braddock | |
| In office January 2, 2006 – January 8, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Pauline Abdullah |
| Succeeded by | Chardaé Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Karl Fetterman
August 15, 1969 West Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Gisele Barreto Almeida
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
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John Karl Fetterman (born August 15, 1969) is an American politician. He currently serves as a United States senator for Pennsylvania. He has held this important role since 2023.
Before becoming a senator, Fetterman was the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019. He then served as the 34th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 to 2023. Fetterman studied at Albright College and the University of Connecticut. He also earned a master's degree from Harvard University. His work with AmeriCorps led him to Braddock, where he later became mayor. In 2022, he won the election for the U.S. Senate.
Early Life and Education
John Fetterman was born in 1969 in West Reading, Pennsylvania. He grew up in York, Pennsylvania, where his father worked at an insurance company. John graduated from Albright College in 1991 with a degree in finance. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Connecticut in 1993. For two years, he worked in Pittsburgh in the insurance field.
A sad event changed Fetterman's path. While he was at UConn, his best friend died in a car accident. This made Fetterman think deeply about life. He joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He became a mentor to an eight-year-old boy whose parents were very sick. This experience made him want to help others. In 1995, he joined AmeriCorps. He taught students in Pittsburgh who were working to get their GEDs (high school equivalency). He then went on to get a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University in 1999.
Mayor of Braddock (2006–2019)
Fetterman first came to Braddock, Pennsylvania, in 2001. He started a program to help young people earn their GEDs. He moved to Braddock in 2004. Braddock was once a busy industrial town, famous for Andrew Carnegie's first steel mill. But the steel industry declined, and the town lost many people. It was in a tough financial situation. Fetterman was drawn to Braddock because he saw its potential.
As mayor, Fetterman worked part-time. He also worked full-time as the director of the town's youth program. He started a nonprofit group called Braddock Redux. This group helped him buy and save buildings in Braddock. His father helped him financially because the mayor's job paid only $150 a month. Fetterman has tattoos related to Braddock. On his left arm is the town's ZIP code, 15104. On his right arm are the dates of nine murders that happened while he was mayor.
Becoming Mayor
Fetterman ran for mayor against the person already in office, Pauline Abdullah, in 2005. He won the Democratic primary by just one vote. He then won the general election without a Republican opponent. He easily won re-election in 2009, 2013, and 2017.
What He Did as Mayor
When Fetterman became mayor, he created a website for Braddock. It showed the town's neglected buildings. He started programs for youth and art. He worked to fix up abandoned buildings and improve the economy. He bought the town's First Presbyterian Church for $50,000 and lived in its basement for a while. The church later became a community center. He also bought a warehouse and added shipping containers on the roof for extra living space.
Other projects included turning empty lots into parks and gardens. He built the town's first public basketball court. He also started a two-acre organic farm. Teenagers from the Braddock Youth Project worked on this farm. To get money for these programs, Fetterman worked with local nonprofit groups. He also worked with Allegheny County, Pennsylvania's economic development program. For example, he helped get a $400,000 grant to build a green roof. This project gave 100 summer construction jobs to young people.
Fetterman encouraged people from other cities to move to Braddock. He highlighted the town's low real estate prices. Some people from Brooklyn moved to Braddock. They turned an abandoned church into an art center. However, despite his efforts, Braddock's population stayed around 2,000. Many homes were still in bad condition.
As mayor, Fetterman usually oversaw the Braddock Police Department. But he gave these duties to the Police Chief, Frank DeBartolo. Fetterman wanted to improve the relationship between residents and the police. He acted as a mediator during disagreements. During his time as mayor, the number of homicides in Braddock went down a lot. For five years, there were no gun-related murders.
In 2006, Fetterman opposed expanding the Mon-Fayette Expressway. He argued that the highway would go through Braddock and harm the town. Fetterman often had disagreements with the town council. Some council members were suspicious of him. They saw a white man as mayor of a mostly Black town. They felt he presented himself as the town's savior. Fetterman also did not attend many council meetings. To get things done, he used his nonprofit group. This helped him avoid council disagreements.
Hospital Closure and Club Incident
In November 2010, Fetterman protested the closing of Braddock Hospital. The hospital was Braddock's largest employer. Its closure left the town without a healthcare provider. Fetterman was arrested and released for refusing to leave the U.S. Steel Tower during this protest.
Also in November 2010, Fetterman worked to close Club 804. He called the nightclub a public nuisance after a shooting happened there. Fetterman even changed the sign on the club to say it would not reopen soon.
Same-Sex Marriage and Restaurant
Starting in 2013, Fetterman began marrying same-sex couples in his home. This was against a Pennsylvania law at the time. He did this to support the LGBT community.
In 2013, Fetterman worked with chef Kevin Sousa to open a restaurant in Braddock. The town did not have a restaurant. Fetterman bought a building that used to be a car dealership. This became the site of the new restaurant, "Superior Motors." Money for the restaurant was raised online. Fetterman hoped it would create jobs and help the community. The restaurant opened in 2017 but closed in 2021.
Media Attention
Fetterman's efforts to help Braddock gained national attention. The New York Times wrote about his youth programs and efforts to attract artists. In 2009, The Guardian called him "America's coolest mayor."
He appeared on The Colbert Report in 2009 and 2010. He discussed Braddock's economic problems and its partnership with Levi Strauss. In 2010, Levi Strauss & Company donated money for Braddock's revitalization. They also featured the town in an advertising campaign. Fetterman also appeared on other TV shows.
Some Braddock residents and town council members criticized Fetterman. They felt his media appearances focused too much on the town's negative aspects. They believed he should talk more positively about the community.
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania (2019–2023)
Elections
2018 Election
On November 14, 2017, Fetterman announced he would run for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. He challenged the person already in office, Mike Stack. Fetterman received support from Senator Bernie Sanders and other politicians. On May 15, 2018, Fetterman won the Democratic primary. He then ran with Governor Tom Wolf. On November 6, 2018, Wolf and Fetterman won the general election.
His Time in Office
Fetterman became the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania on January 15, 2019. He went on a tour of all 67 Pennsylvania counties. He talked to residents about legalizing certain substances. After his tour, he wrote a report about what he learned.
To show his support for certain causes, Fetterman hung the pride flag and another flag from his office balcony. These flags overlooked the state capitol. State employees removed them because a new law banned unauthorized flags on capitol property. Fetterman continued to display the flags outside his office.
An investigation found that Fetterman often had a light work schedule. He was sometimes absent from official state business. He was also often absent from leading the Pennsylvania State Senate, which is a duty of the lieutenant governor.
Board of Pardons
The lieutenant governor has limited power. However, they do oversee the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. In this role, Fetterman worked to increase pardons for people in jail. He pushed for more commutations (reducing sentences) and pardons. While he was in charge, the Board of Pardons recommended 50 commutations for life sentences. Governor Wolf approved 47 of these.
Donald Trump and Voter Fraud
In November 2020, Fetterman gained national attention. He responded to Donald Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Trump threatened to file lawsuits in Pennsylvania. Fetterman said Trump was "no different than any other random internet troll."
Joe Biden won the 2020 election in Pennsylvania. Trump's claims of fraud led to challenges. The Texas lieutenant governor offered a reward for proof of fraud. Fetterman responded by saying Pennsylvania found three cases of voter fraud. He joked that Trump "got 100% of the dead mother vote" in Pennsylvania. His comments received widespread attention.
U.S. Senate (2023–Present)
Elections
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2016 Senate Race
On September 14, 2015, Fetterman announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. This was for the seat held by Pat Toomey. His campaign was considered a long shot. He was up against two well-known candidates. Fetterman focused on progressive ideas and building support from everyday people. He was the only statewide Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania to support Bernie Sanders. Despite not being well-known and having little money, Fetterman received 20% of the primary vote. He finished third. After the primary, Fetterman supported the winning candidate.
2022 Senate Race
In January 2021, Fetterman began exploring a run for the 2022 U.S. Senate election. He officially entered the race on February 8, 2021. His main opponent in the Democratic primary was U.S. representative Conor Lamb. Fetterman won the Democratic primary by a large margin. He received 58.7% of the vote. His wife, Gisele, gave his victory speech. This was because he was in the hospital after having a stroke.
His Time in the Senate
Fetterman took office on January 3, 2023. At 6 feet 8 inches tall, he is the tallest senator currently serving. Adjusting to the Senate was challenging for him due to his stroke. The Senate chamber was set up with closed captioning technology. This helps him read speech in real time.
In February 2023, Fetterman attended his first Agriculture Committee hearing. He asked questions about farming topics. He was hospitalized for lightheadedness in February 2023. A few days later, he was hospitalized again for severe depression. He stayed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for about two months. During his hospitalization, he helped create a bill about rail safety. This bill aimed to prevent train accidents.
On April 17, 2023, Fetterman returned to the Senate. He led a subcommittee meeting on food and nutrition. He spoke about the importance of fighting hunger. He voted against a bill that changed rules for food assistance programs. He said his vote was because of new requirements for the SNAP.
After Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Fetterman said he would be willing to approve some of Trump's choices for cabinet positions.
Senate Committees
Fetterman serves on several important Senate committees:
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research (Chair)
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Joint Economic Committee
- Special Committee on Aging
Political Views
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Fetterman is often described as a progressive. This means he supports social and economic changes. However, in 2022, he said he was "just a Democrat." He explained that many of his ideas, once called progressive, are now common beliefs in the Democratic Party.
Key Issues
- Congressional Stock Ownership: Fetterman believes members of Congress and their families should not be allowed to buy or sell stocks.
- Environmental Issues: He used to be against fracking (a way to get natural gas). Now, he supports it but wants stronger environmental rules. He believes in balancing clean energy efforts with jobs in the fossil fuel industry. He supports moving towards green and renewable energy.
- Filibuster: Fetterman supports ending the filibuster in the United States Senate. This rule can stop bills from being voted on.
- Foreign Policy: He believes the United States should not act as the "world's police officers." He is cautious about free trade agreements.
- Gun Policy: Fetterman supports stricter rules for buying guns.
- Healthcare: He believes healthcare is a basic human right. He supports expanding access to healthcare, including programs like Obamacare.
- Israel: Fetterman strongly supports the relationship between the United States and Israel. He believes the U.S. should help Israel defend itself. He is against groups that boycott Israel.
- Minimum Wage: He supports raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
- Policing: Fetterman supports community policing. He is against taking money away from police departments. He also supports the Black Lives Matter movement. He believes police should only use deadly force when there is a serious threat to life.
- Taxation: Fetterman supports a wealth tax in the United States. This would mean taxing very rich people.
- Unions: He is a strong supporter of labor unions. He believes the "union way of life is sacred."
Personal Life
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John Fetterman is married to Gisele Barreto Fetterman. She is a Brazilian-American activist. Gisele heard about Fetterman's work as mayor of Braddock and wrote him a letter in 2007. They married a year later. They have three children and live in a converted car dealership. They also have rescue dogs. The family chose not to live in the official residence for Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor.
Fetterman is known for his casual style of dress. He often wears a sweatshirt and shorts. For a long time, he owned only one suit. He wore it when he had to lead the Pennsylvania Senate. He bought a new suit for his swearing-in as a U.S. senator.
Health
Fetterman has experienced depression throughout his life. In 2017, he was diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm. He also had a weakened heart pump. This diagnosis became public after he had a stroke in 2022.
In 2018, Fetterman talked about losing a lot of weight. He is 6 feet 8 inches tall. He used to weigh over 400 pounds but lost about 150 pounds.
On May 13, 2022, Fetterman had an ischemic stroke. This was caused by a blood clot. Doctors put a pacemaker and defibrillator in his heart. He left the hospital on May 22, 2022. His doctors said he did not have brain damage and expected him to recover fully. Fetterman said he regretted not taking care of his health earlier.
After his stroke, Fetterman had trouble processing sounds. He uses closed captioning to help him understand speech in real time. His doctor said he was able to work full-time in public office.
On February 8, 2023, Fetterman was hospitalized overnight after feeling lightheaded. On February 16, 2023, he checked himself into Walter Reed Hospital for clinical depression. He stayed there for about two months for treatment. He returned to the Senate on April 17.
On June 9, 2024, Fetterman and his wife were in a car crash in Maryland. They were hospitalized but quickly released. Fetterman was found to be at fault for the crash.
Film Appearances
Fetterman had a small role in the 2022 film The Pale Blue Eye. He posted a photo with actor Christian Bale from the movie set. Fetterman also worked with Bale and the film's director, Scott Cooper, in 2013. This was when they filmed Out of the Furnace in Braddock.
Images for kids
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Fetterman in 2009
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Fetterman being sworn in as Lieutenant Governor in 2019 in the Pennsylvania State Senate chamber.
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Official portrait, 2019
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Fetterman as lieutenant governor in 2022
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See also
In Spanish: John Fetterman para niños
