Democratic members of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation are openly calling for Senator John Fetterman's ouster after a Wall Street Journal report portrayed him as neglecting core Senate duties, including refusing to meet with paralyzed veterans and skipping a funeral for slain police officers. The report, which drew on leaked text messages between Fetterman and his aides, has intensified a simmering revolt within his own party.
Representative Chris Deluzio, a Pennsylvania Democrat, wrote on X that the report shows Fetterman has "no sense of duty," citing "laziness, disrespect, and willingness to carry water for a foreign government." He added that Pennsylvanians "will do something about it in 2028." Representative Brendan Boyle was blunter, calling Fetterman "a disgrace" and "a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job."
The Journal's reporting includes specific instances where Fetterman balked at standard senatorial responsibilities. In one exchange, an aide told him that representatives from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia wanted to discuss Medicaid cuts and vaccine concerns. Fetterman responded, "Well, I'm not," adding that he believed they "just want free trips to D.C." In another case, when informed that a funeral for three Pennsylvania police officers would require a dress code and last three hours, Fetterman wrote, "This may be a nonstarter."
The criticism extends beyond the congressional delegation. Pennsylvania state Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, who serves as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, said the report is "horrifying, but not new to many of us in PA." Kenyatta accused Fetterman of being "constantly MIA" and of attacking "the very neighbors who gave him a chance" while appearing on Fox News to cheerlead for President Donald Trump and "endless wars." He concluded, "2028 can't come soon enough."
Fetterman, who did not respond to a request for comment, has long been a source of tension within his party. He rose to prominence as a progressive in the mold of Senator Bernie Sanders, backing universal healthcare, pro-labor policies, and higher taxes on the wealthy during his successful 2022 campaign against Dr. Mehmet Oz. Since taking office, however, his voting record has shifted toward the center, and he has repeatedly broken with Democratic leadership.
During last year's government shutdown fight, Fetterman sided with Republicans while most Democrats pushed to renew expiring Obamacare tax credits. He has also become one of the Senate's most vocal supporters of Israel and has helped confirm several of Trump's nominees, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Notably, he voted against confirming Oz, his former rival, to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The growing discontent raises questions about Fetterman's political future. While no formal primary challenge has been announced, the public statements from Deluzio, Boyle, and Kenyatta signal that fellow Democrats are preparing for a serious contest in 2028. Republicans, meanwhile, have signaled they would welcome Fetterman should he choose to switch parties, a move that would further complicate the Senate's narrow balance of power.
For now, the immediate fallout is political. The report has given Fetterman's critics within his own state a platform to argue that he is unfit for office, and the leaked text messages provide a paper trail that could fuel a sustained campaign against him. Whether that pressure forces a change in behavior or a change in party affiliation remains to be seen.