Fetterman Shears Lamb, Wins PA Democratic Senate Nomination
Now the hard part begins for the self-described populist candidate.

Hannah Beier/Reuters
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman won Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate primary Tuesday night, defeating Rep. Conor Lamb and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta ending a lengthy intra-party battle, according to the Associated Press.
Fetterman, who’s been considered the race’s frontrunner for weeks, will now face the Republican nominee, who has not yet been called, in November.
He won despite a sudden health scare this past weekend. On Sunday, Fetterman announced he’d suffered a stroke, was hospitalized and “feeling much better” with no cognitive damage, according to a statement Sunday.
“Our campaign isn’t slowing down one bit, and we are still on track to win this primary on Tuesday, and flip this Senate seat in November,” he wrote in a statement.
On Tuesday, just hours before the election, he underwent surgery for implantation of a pacemaker with a defibrillator.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Pennsylvania is expected to be one of the most expensive Senate races nationwide this year as Democrats hope to flip retiring Sen. Pat Toomey’s (R) seat. Republicans are equally invested—with Pennsylvania being considered one of their best chances at taking back the Senate majority.
Fetterman came into the political arena as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, a crumbling steel town, in the late 2000s. He further rose to national prominence during his unsuccessful 2016 bid for Senate and successful lieutenant governor run in 2018, alongside now Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D). His platform prioritizes progressive policies like a $15 minimum wage, marijuana legalization, abolishing the filibuster and enacting “universal health care.”
But Fetterman has shied away from outright labeling himself as a progressive - rejecting ideas like “defund the police“ and certain aspects of the Green New Deal. Instead, Fetterman has described himself as a populist.
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog


