Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) stated that he was "absolutely wrong" for campaigning to eliminate the filibuster in 2022, recognizing that doing so would diminish the minority party's voice. In a recent episode of The Katie Miller Podcast, Fetterman expressed that former Senators Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema were correct in opposing efforts to weaken or abolish the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to advance most legislation in the Senate.
Fetterman reflected on his previous stance, saying, "One thing I was absolutely wrong on … is that in my cycle in ‘22, we were running to eliminate the filibuster. And we were so wrong, so wrong about that." He noted that Manchin and Sinema had been "vindicated" by his change in opinion.
The filibuster has been a contentious issue for Senate Democrats during President Joe Biden's administration. In 2021, Manchin and Sinema joined Republicans in blocking a Democratic effort to change Senate rules regarding voting rights legislation, maintaining the 60-vote threshold. At that time, Fetterman had argued that the Senate's rules were hindering action on issues that voters expected Democrats to address.
Since taking office in 2023, Fetterman has increasingly diverged from the progressive wing of his party on various issues, including government funding and immigration. He has voiced concerns about ideological extremes within the Democratic Party.
Supporters of the filibuster argue that it encourages bipartisan compromise and prevents significant policy shifts with changes in Congressional control. Fetterman emphasized that eliminating the filibuster would silence the minority party, stating, "If we lose the filibuster, then the rights of the minority, whether that will be Democrat or Republican … would have effectively little to no voice."
He also remarked on the irony of Democrats, who once sought to eliminate the filibuster, now utilizing it to their advantage. When asked if he believes Democrats would attempt to abolish the filibuster if they regain control of Congress, Fetterman highlighted the need for trust between the parties regarding the filibuster's role in Senate functionality.
