Senator John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democrat, has finally resurfaced in the Senate after a long absence, but not without a storm of scrutiny over his mental health and job performance.
According to The New York Times, under fire for skipping votes and hearings, Fetterman has started showing up to Senate events in 2025, driven by frustration that his past openness about depression has been turned into a political weapon.
Let’s rewind to 2022, when Fetterman suffered a severe stroke during a tough Senate campaign, yet still clinched the win to represent 13 million Pennsylvanians until 2028.
Early in 2023, shortly after being sworn in, he checked into Walter Reed for six weeks to battle depression, later speaking publicly about seeking help—a move he now regrets.
“My doctor warned years ago: After it’s public that you are getting help for depression, people will weaponize that,” Fetterman lamented. Well, turns out actions have consequences, and his candor has indeed become a political punching bag.
By mid-2024, his participation dwindled further, with missed votes, skipped committee meetings, and no town halls in Pennsylvania due to fears of protester backlash.
A New York Times analysis reveals Fetterman has missed more votes since 2023 than all but two senators, and in 2025, he’s near the top of the absentee list again.
He’s dodged Monday night “bed check” votes and Thursday evening tallies to prioritize family time, especially after his father’s recent heart attack. “I would go visit my dad instead of a throwaway vote,” he said. Fair enough, but constituents aren’t thrilled when their voice is absent on Capitol Hill.
Some Pennsylvanians have struggled to even reach his office, while former staff describe erratic behavior and a disconnect from his duties. Sounds like the senator’s got some bridges to rebuild.
Fetterman has distanced himself from Democratic colleagues, skipping caucus lunches and even quitting the group chat over petty notifications. “It’s mostly just happy birthdays,” he quipped. Hard to argue with ditching emoji spam, but isolation in politics rarely ends well.
Interestingly, he’s forged ties with some Republican lawmakers on issues like supporting Israel after the October 2023 attack, tougher immigration policies, and pushing back against what many see as overzealous cancel culture.
“I’m not going to become a Republican; there’s no lane for me,” Fetterman clarified. Good to know he’s not jumping ship, but his conservative-leaning stances might raise eyebrows among his progressive base.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Amy Klobuchar have recently met with Fetterman to offer support and discuss his priorities. “Good thoughts, Senator Fetterman,” Klobuchar offered. Nice words, but kind gestures won’t erase the missed votes or constituent complaints.
Kierstyn Zolfo of Indivisible in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, didn’t mince words: “The regrettable fact is that John Fetterman is not doing the job he was elected to perform.” That’s a harsh reality check from a former supporter, and it stings because it’s rooted in undeniable absenteeism.
