Alexis Rinere – Contributing Writer
arr5887@psu.edu

With the midterm election less than a month away it is more important than ever to research and learn about the candidates we will soon be electing. Alongside Josh Shapiro, the democratic nominee running for PA Governor, John Fetterman is the Democratic nominee running for the United States Senate. With Senator Pat Toomey’s term coming to an end Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Republican nominee, are fighting for his spot. The current senate makeup holds forty eight Democrats, fifty Republicans, and two Independents, Bernie Sanders and Angus S. King Jr., both of whom tend to lean democratic when voting. If Toomey is replaced with Oz the makeup will remain the same, however, it could be dangerous for the future. Allowing the democrats to hold majority in the senate protects our reproductive rights as well as our right to healthcare and our LGBTQ+ rights. 

John Fetterman joined the organization Big Brothers Big Sisters at the age of 23, meeting his eight year old “little.” The “little” had recently lost both of his parents and was in immediate need of a mentor and guidance. Fetterman did not hesitate to step in and promised the mother before she died that he would continue to look after the child and help him graduate from college. Looking forward fifteen years his “little” had successfully graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. Fetterman knew he still wanted to do more. Following the graduation of his ‘little’ the nominee joined the AmeriCorps and served in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. Here he helped set up computer labs in the neighborhood so that he could teach GED classes to young parents. Fetterman was born to young parents, making this project special to him. Fetterman then went on to get his Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. After returning to Pennsylvania he began a GED program in Braddock. This is a known poor town and considered one of the most challenging communities in the commonwealth. In 2005 Fetterman was encouraged by his students to run for Mayor of Braddock. He won the primary by a single vote and served as mayor for thirteen years. During his years as Mayor Fetterman rebuilt his community. He created more jobs, engaged the youth, and brought urban policy solutions to the town. John has given the town a community center, urban gardens, and his wife, Gisele, runs a free book store. 

One of Fetterman’s main plans is to “Hold Washington Accountable.” He wants to create more products in America in an attempt to fight inflation and lower costs. Making more in America would also create more jobs. Fetterman also wants to cut taxes for the working people. He is in support of suspending gas tax in hopes to provide our working people with some relief at the gas station. To ensure that the millionaires are fairly paying taxes he plans to enact a financial transaction tax on trades of stocks, bonds, and derivatives. The savings from this could then be used to cut taxes for our working families. John Fetterman is confident in his belief that lawmakers should not make profit off information about the companies they should be regulating. The next step in Fetterman’s plan to hold Washington accountable is to end out-of-pocket health care costs. 

John Fetterman has many other plans such as improving healthcare access for service members. He also plans to improve the quality of care to be provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the Senate Fetterman plans to expand voting rights and vote to ban Members of Congress from holding and trading stocks. As a country there are many major flaws within our criminal justice system. Fetterman will fight for a criminal legal system where everyone is seen as equal in the eyes of the law. He states on his website that serious crimes will receive serious punishment but he also wants to reduce the burdens that have been placed on prosecutors and judges. Immigration has been a topic of controversy for many years. Fetterman feels strongly that immigration makes America. Immigration is also a personal issue to Fetterman as his wife was a Dreamer when she came to America at age seven, running from the violence in Brazil. “I would not have my family if it weren’t for immigration,” Fetterman has stated. It is apparent that our immigration system is broken. Using his spot in the Senate, he will support investments that will fund keeping our borders strong to prevent illegal drugs entering our country. Fetterman will work in the Senate to modernize the visa system and asylum programs as well as fight for a track to citizenship for frontline workers, small business owners, and minors who have lived in America since they were babies. 

Women’s reproductive rights have become a vital topic when researching candidates since the Supreme Court voted to revoke Roe v Wade this past June. As Senator, Fetterman will vote access to safe and legal abortion into federal law. He plans to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act because “..deciding how and when to become a mother is a decision that should always be made by a woman and her doctor – not politicians.” John Fetterman has a myriad of other plans for guaranteeing health care, legalizing cannabis, securing LGBTQ+ rights, crime, inflation, the climate crisis and the union. 

Voting Fetterman into the United States Senate would secure us a more hopeful future for all Americans. Dr. Mehmet Oz has extreme right-wing views and plans to destroy what Fetterman, and many others, are desiring for. While it is important to research the candidates and form an opinion on them, it is not enough. It is vital that those capable are registered to vote and participate in each election. If you want to vote on November 8 but are not registered be sure to register by October 24. Voting John Fetterman for the United States Senate and Josh Shapiro for Pennsylvania’s Governor will be a tremendous step to achieving these vast goals. To register to vote simply search “register to vote” followed by the state you reside in.