Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman now supports filibuster

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has publicly reversed his long-held position on the Senate filibuster, declaring in a detailed opinion piece published on July 27, 2026, that he now believes the procedural rule is a necessary safeguard for American democracy. The senator, who campaigned in 2022 on eliminating the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation, stated he was "horribly wrong" and that the Democratic Party's previous push to end the filibuster was a mistake.

Fetterman's op-ed, titled "Why I changed my mind about the filibuster," represents a significant political evolution. During his Senate campaign, he was a vocal critic of the rule, aligning with most Senate Democrats who sought to end it to pass President Joe Biden's agenda, including voting rights protections and codifying abortion rights. That effort failed due to opposition from former Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.

Now, halfway through his first term, Fetterman argues the filibuster is a "critical line of defense" against one-party control, particularly under the current administration of President Donald Trump, where Republicans hold a government trifecta. He wrote that the rule has prevented...