Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has become a growing problem for the party, as his commitment to his job as a Senator, and his commitment to the Democratic Party, is becoming an alarm bell.
Since Fetterman had a stroke in 2022 before the election for the Senate, and was in a mental hospital for clinical depression for two months in early 2023, his behavior and personality have changed dramatically, with former staff members claiming he has displayed erratic behavior.
Fetterman fails to meet his constituents in town halls or appear at important meetings inside and outside the Senate.
His behavior, including wearing inappropriate clothing (hoodie, sweatshirt and shorts) in the Senate and elsewhere, marks him as an oddity, and as a gadfly, and he has expressed discontent with the party that elected him to the Senate in 2022.
It makes many of his colleagues and many others to wonder if at some point, if the Democrats were to win a gain of four seats in November 2026, that he might switch parties to the Republicans, destroying the ability of Democrats to control the majority, and pursue their agenda and investigate the corruption, scandals, and power grabbing of President Donald Trump.
Many former Senate staff members have reported on his lack of interest in doing his job as a Senator, and have pointed out that his major goals seem to be to cultivate relationships with conservative media figures, and advocate for the Israeli government, despite their endless war against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Fetterman has become an unreliable gadfly, and a “lone wolf” that reminds many of Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who often worked against their Democratic colleagues.
As Lieutenant Governor (2019-2023) under Governor Tom Wolf, he did not get along with the governor, and Wolfe continued to express issues with Fetterman’s behavior and poor approach in dealing with the Democratic Party and with constituents.
Newly elected Governor Josh Shapiro, since 2023, has also had issues with Fetterman and his unwillingness to conform to normal standards and interactions with his party and the state government.
Fetterman has often supported Donald Trump, on his pursuit of control of Greenland, and most notably, the Iran War.
There are at least three present or former members of the House of Representatives delegation, who are seen as potential challengers for Fetterman in the upcoming 2028 Senate race:
Conor Lamb (2018-2023) who lost to Fetterman in the Senate primary in 2022; Brendan Boyle since 2015; and Chris DeLuzio since 2023.
It seems certain there will be a primary battle for this Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2028, and the question is whether Fetterman will have switched to the Republican Party before that election, as he is seen as totally unreliable and unstable.