Democrats’ frustration with Fetterman mounts as he keeps criticizing his own party

Democrats in Washington and Pennsylvania are increasingly frustrated with Sen. John Fetterman, a wedge Republicans have eagerly highlighted.

Democrats in Washington and Pennsylvania are increasingly frustrated with Sen. John Fetterman after a week in which he once again criticized his own party’s response to the Los Angeles protests and to Israel’s attacks on Iran – wedges Republicans eagerly highlighted. But those Democrats also admit there is little they can do about it. Ex-staffers continue to fume that their former boss is providing political fodder to Republicans. Democratic aides on Capitol Hill grouse about their bosses being forced to respond to his comments. Some voters who supported him in Pennsylvania say they are fed up, and a former 2022 primary rival is barnstorming the state, holding town halls and lambasting Fetterman, who is largely avoiding public events. Fetterman has also drawn some grumbling within the party for frequently missing votes and committee hearings, and his mental health has been a frequent subject of discussion in recent months in the wake of media reports detailing claims about his erratic behavior. Fetterman, who has been open about receiving treatment for clinical depression, has dismissed any suggestion he might be unfit for office. Yet publicly, Democratic senators largely refuse to criticize Fetterman – as they grapple with what to expect in the future from a senator whose term runs through 2028. “I think we are all individuals here. He’s got the right to give his opinion just like the other 99 of us,” Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly told CNN.