Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) officially announced on Monday that he will seek the open seat of the US Senate in 2022.
Fetterman signed up last week to compete in what is expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country, but was hesitant as to whether this was a formal announcement. The Lieutenant Governor raised more than $ 1 million after opening a campaign account in January.
“Talking is cheap, but for the past 20 years I’ve worked to represent, rebuild, and advance these places,” said Fetterman, formerly the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania in a video announcing his run Monday.
“It is not rural versus urban, it is rural and urban. I’m not going to fight for part of Pennsylvania, not part of Pennsylvania, but part of Pennsylvania. Just like I did as a mayor, just like I do as a lieutenant governor, and just like I would as your next United States senator, “he added.
Thanks to the 37,000 grassroots donors who joined.
Now it’s my turn.
Let’s get started https://t.co/6ZiSPrhnpS pic.twitter.com/rvjKE6z0Y3
– John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) February 8, 2021
On Monday morning, Fetterman promised in a tweet to “always be 100% sedition-free” as a senator, a clear reference to a coalition of GOP senators who objected to President Biden’s Electoral College victory in January. Retiring Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey
Patrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Government Used Patriot Act To Collect Logs From Website Visitors In 2019 Appeals Court Rules NSA’s Bulk Collection Of Phone Data Illegal Dunford Withdraws From Consideration To Chair Coronavirus Monitoring Panel MORE (R) did not belong to that group.
If you send me to the US Senate, I will always be 100% free from sedition.
We as a nation crossed borders, I never thought we would, or even could.
My promise to you: keep core ideals such as democracy + the peaceful transfer of power always sacred.
– John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) February 8, 2021
Toomey announced at the end of 2020 that it would not seek a third term. In January, Sen. Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones Portman ‘Purple America’ Will Set Political Direction In 2022 Sen Shelby Considers Retirement: AP Harris Casts First Tie-Breaking Votes as Vice President MORE (R-Ohio) became the second Republican senator first elected in 2010 to announce his retirement.
Fetterman lost the 2016 Democratic primaries to challenge Toomey to Kathleen McGinty, who went on to lose 1.4 points in the general election. State Senator Sharif Street (D) has said he will also be aiming for the Democratic nomination in 2022, while Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D) and Conor Lamb (D) are also reportedly considering bids.