Hannah Golden

When I sat down for the virtual meeting with Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Fellow students sat beside me, chattering about questions they wanted to ask before the screen in front of us illuminated.

John Fetterman, noted for his casual attire and laid-back attitude, introduced himself and expressed his gratitude at our involvement in the event as well as his excitement to hear our questions.

Fetterman started by giving the room a rundown of his biography. He served in AmeriCorps, and taught GED classes in Braddock, Pennsylvania, a small steel town in Allegheny County. In his own words, he “never expected to become an elected official,” and started his political career by becoming the mayor of Braddock, the election in which he won by a single vote. Fetterman later ran for Lieutenant Governor with Tom Wolf, winning the election in 2018. 

Fetterman then opened up the room to questions. His answer to one student question, “who or what inspires you the most in your political career?” was especially poignant. Fetterman responded that he has always been inspired by “the young people who helped me to get elected,” going on about the importance of voting within the younger generation and going into more detail about the fact that he won his first election by a single vote. 

Though the meeting was only forty-five minutes, it was an incredible experience being able to learn more about the Lieutenant Governor. The key takeaway was the sheer importance of voting, as the difference between winning or losing an election may come down to a single vote. 

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so here.