Staff Reports
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has managed to carve out a position that’s almost as unique as his typically outsized hoodie — a rare cordiality with former President Donald Trump. However, his true claim to fame (or infamy) might be his absences from work, more so than his unexpected friendships. In a startling turn of events that would make a slacker proud, Fetterman has missed more votes than any other senator, proving that attendance might just be optional in D.C.
According to data from Zeteo, Fetterman has taken his leave of absence to staggering new heights, missing an impressive 21% of roll call votes from February 2023 to February 2025. The governor’s tracker revealed that he was absent for 162 out of 773 votes. For those keeping score, that puts him leagues behind his colleagues, with a paltry comparison to the median of just 2.5% missed votes. No wonder people are questioning whether he’s more suited for a daytime nap than a Senate seat.
“The Senate has held 91 floor votes in the new Congress, and the attendance record is clear: Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has the worst record, missing 18 votes.”@PabloReports dives into Fetterman's poor voting record.
Read here:https://t.co/qDUHqxOuoM pic.twitter.com/Cf4SA91896
— Zeteo (@zeteo_news) February 25, 2025
In an attempt to justify his absence, Fetterman claimed he was “devastated” by inquiries into his attendance. But let’s be honest, it’s hard to take that sentiment seriously when it feels like he’s missing more days than a high schooler during exam week. His excuse isn’t just about the unpredictable nature of the Senate calendar but also involves mundane issues like struggling with well-publicized health struggles, including a clinical depression diagnosis that led him to check into a veterans hospital.
The backstory here isn’t just tragic but also slightly ironic. Fetterman’s stroke during the 2022 campaign certainly didn’t help his cause, as it rendered him further incapable of showing up. Meanwhile, his frequent absences have thrashed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s ability to confirm President Biden’s nominees, slowing down a process that, let’s be honest, could already use some legitimate roadblocks.
And it wouldn’t be a complete Fetterman saga without a dash of controversy. In a rather puzzling move, he recently dismissed claims that Trump’s executive orders resulted in any sort of “constitutional crisis.” Instead, he argued that the legal back-and-forth between conservative and liberal judges is just all part of the game—nothing to see here, folks. While he may be trying to play peacemaker, it’s hard to tell if he’s fending off criticism or just busy keeping his seat warm while everyone else does the heavy lifting. It appears the only thing Fetterman swings at are disruptions to his absence record, leaving many to wonder if he’s really there just to collect his paycheck.
