Editor's note: A list of all candidates currently running for Sen. Pat Toomey's seat has been added at the bottom since this article was first published.
Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman visited the Venango County Democrats Saturday on a whirlwind tour of some northwestern Pennsylvania counties.
"You're the real superstars here, you're the ones who get it done day in and day out. You're the ones who might lose friends," he said, acknowledging it is tough being a Democrat in Venango County. "I know this is a red county." He noted seeing the pro-Trump and "(Expletive) Biden" signs in front yards all over during his journey Saturday in Clarion, McKean, Warren and Venango counties. He also visited Bulter County after his stop in Venango.
Dressed in athletic shorts and a hooded sweatshirt, Fetterman thanked the 45 people at the dinner meeting for their interest in his campaign. "Every vote counts. My story started because of one single vote," he said telling the story of how he won by only one vote in his first primary race for mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania in 2005. "I know whose vote it was," he said with a laugh assuring the crowd that he did vote for himself. But the politician known for wearing mostly black attire credits a constituent who took time off work to vote as the reason that he won.
"You're the real superstars here, you're the ones who get it done day in and day out. You're the ones who might lose friends," he said, acknowledging it is tough being a Democrat in Venango County. "I know this is a red county." He noted seeing the pro-Trump and "(Expletive) Biden" signs in front yards all over during his journey Saturday in Clarion, McKean, Warren and Venango counties. He also visited Bulter County after his stop in Venango.
Dressed in athletic shorts and a hooded sweatshirt, Fetterman thanked the 45 people at the dinner meeting for their interest in his campaign. "Every vote counts. My story started because of one single vote," he said telling the story of how he won by only one vote in his first primary race for mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania in 2005. "I know whose vote it was," he said with a laugh assuring the crowd that he did vote for himself. But the politician known for wearing mostly black attire credits a constituent who took time off work to vote as the reason that he won.
Fetterman stressed the need to raise the minimum wage and poked a few jabs Sen. Pat Toomey, who voted against the federal infrastructure bill but appeared at several places where the money is being awarded.
As he met with the county Democrats, he took time to listen to concerns about nursing shortages and education. He also took time to take several pictures with those in attendance.
As he met with the county Democrats, he took time to listen to concerns about nursing shortages and education. He also took time to take several pictures with those in attendance.
He told the crowd that he will fight to raise the minimum wage, expand healthcare, support unions and focus on more American manufacturing, women's rights and things he called core values. "I don't know if you would call them Democrat [only issues], but I would call them the right [issues.]" he said. "I'm just someone who believes in what fairness is and what fairness looks like."
Fetterman was accompanied by his "Valentine", wife Gisele, who gladly offered a few jokes at his expense contributing to the laid-back atmosphere.
The lieutenant governor is hoping to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Pat Toomey. Fetterman unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic primary for the same seat in 2016, when he was a relative unknown across the state. He was a four-term mayor in Braddock, where he oversaw the cities revitalization. He has been lieutenant governor since 2019 under Gov. Tom Wolf.
The May primary election is May 17.
Below is a list of all the current candidates with a link to their bios, website or stories done on them.
Below is a list of all the current candidates with a link to their bios, website or stories done on them.
| LIBERTARIAN (as of 2/17/22) |
RSS Feed