Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has missed more Senate roll-call votes than any other senator this year, according to a recent report from GovTrack.us.
The nonpartisan tracking site found that Fetterman, a Democrat, was absent for 18 out of 98 votes in January and February, giving him the highest absence rate among his colleagues.
His missed votes have sparked criticism, particularly in contrast to Pennsylvania’s newly elected GOP Senator Dave McCormick, who has not missed a single vote.
Fetterman’s Missed Votes: The Numbers
According to GovTrack, Fetterman has been absent for 18.4% of Senate votes in 2025. The left-leaning publication Zeteo highlighted that:
- 11 of his 18 missed votes occurred on Thursdays.
- He missed eight more votes than any other senator.
When asked about his absences, Fetterman responded sarcastically, stating:
“I am devastated by your inquiries.”
Neither Fetterman nor his spokesperson provided an official reason for his absences.
Comparisons and Criticism
Fetterman’s voting record has drawn criticism from various sources, with Zeteo highlighting several key points:
- Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) has a 100% voting record in 2025.
- Hawaii’s Democratic Senators, Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, have traveled nearly 3,000 miles from their home state yet have either missed no votes or just one.
- Fetterman’s 230-mile commute from Braddock, PA, to Washington, D.C., is significantly shorter, yet his absences remain the highest.
Additionally, Zeteo noted that while Fetterman missed key votes, he still made time to:
- Visit Donald Trump in Florida in January.
- Meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C., in February.
Fetterman’s History of Absences
This is not the first time Fetterman has ranked high in Senate absences:
- During the 118th Congress (2023-2024), Fetterman missed 21.2% of votes, ranking fourth in absences.
- In 2023, he was hospitalized for weeks while receiving treatment for depression, following a stroke in May 2022.
While health concerns have previously impacted his attendance, no explanation has been given for his 2025 absences.
Backlash from Progressives
Fetterman has also faced criticism from the left for his recent policy positions, including:
- Strong support for Israel, which has angered progressive activists.
- Voting for several of Trump’s cabinet nominees, despite being a Democrat.
His alignment with certain conservative positions has further frustrated some members of his own party.