Pa Lt. Gov John Fetterman is officially running for U.S Senate

By: Katie Meyer (Originally published in WPSU on February 8, 2021)

(Philadelphia) — Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has become the first major candidate to officially launch a campaign for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate in 2022.

The 51-year-old Western Pennsylvania Democrat’s announcement comes as little surprise. Fetterman, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate once before, has a steadily rising national profile and has long been considered a likely contender for the open seat.

Politically, he has made a project of attempting to bridge the increasing conservatism of de-industrialized, once-Democratic-voting areas with his own brand of progressive politics.

“I believe in the dignity of work and the dignity of a paycheck,” he said in his campaign announcement statement. “I believe the union way of life is sacred. I believe in health care as a fundamental, basic human right.”

Fetterman also said he believes in “environmental justice,” wants to overhaul the American criminal justice system, legalize marijuana nationwide, and thinks the country needs to increase protections for LGBTQIA people.

Along with the official start of his campaign, he announced endorsements by two large Pennsylvania unions — United Steelworkers District 10 and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776.

The lieutenant governor started his political career when he was narrowly elected mayor of the small borough of Braddock, outside Pittsburgh, in 2005.

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