John Fetterman dominated the Pa. Democratic Senate primary. Here’s how he won.
Elections,2022 Elections,2022 Pennsylvania Senate Election,John Fetterman
John Fetterman didn’t just win in Pennsylvania, he trounced his Democratic Senate primary rivals. The lieutenant governor won every single county in the state and had a 30-point lead over U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb with almost 94% of the expected total votes counted Wednesday.
He did it even with a late and shocking development: Fetterman suffered a stroke days before the primary and spent election day recovering in the hospital.
His victory was so decisive, it became a footnote amid a tight GOP Senate race that was still too early to call Wednesday and likely headed for a recount. And while predicted by polls and political observers, his win represents a clear shift away from the more moderate candidates Democratic voters typically favor in Pennsylvania primaries.
Fetterman tapped into a growing populist electorate in Pennsylvania, combining that appeal with a progressive message. He got into the race early and set up an unbeatable fund-raising operation. And his “every county” strategy — combined with a social media campaign and TV ads — blanketed his brand statewide.
