Democrats ‘Fetterman proofed’ the Senate with wins in longtime red states, Pa. senator’s critics say – Inquirer.com

Democrats ‘Fetterman proofed’ the Senate with wins in longtime red states, Pa. senator’s critics say  Inquirer.com

Fetterman's former chief of staff and a 2022 primary rival both say the Pa. senator's influence in the Senate was diminished as Democrats went deep into GOP territory. Now that Democrats have won at least 54 seats in the U.S. Senate, the new majority party likely won’t have to rely on Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman to be a reliable vote for their agenda. And if he switches parties, it will have no bearing on who controls the chamber. For months, some Democrats had voiced concerns that Fetterman — who has broken with the party in high-profile moments since President Donald Trump took office — could be a powerful swing vote if they either tied or won a one-seat majority.

» READ MORE: John Fetterman votes with his party less frequently since Trump took office, rarely attends meetings But as many online commenters pointed out Tuesday night, their gains will likely leave them with a “Fetterman-proof” margin. “You know who doesn’t matter anymore? John Fetterman,” wrote Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s former chief of staff, who has become an outspoken critic of the senator. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat who lost the 2022 primary to Fetterman, added: “We just Fetterman proofed the US Senate.” Democrats scored wins in traditionally Republican states, including Texas, where Democrats had last won a