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What Stands Out More Than Fetterman’s Hoodie?
During the mid-twentieth century, anti-capitalist leaders all over the world fashioned themselves after the working class. These leaders dressed like common workers in order to position themselves as “men of the people.”
Long-shot local politicians in the United States acquired the “man of the people” persona over time in order to run non-traditional campaigns. Working-class voters appreciate the sentiment, but many expect the “man of the people” to stop the act after the election. Since becoming the Democratic U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania in 2022, John Fetterman has not retired his “man of the people” attire.
From 2006 to 2019, Fetterman was the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, a borough of less than 2,000 people. Fetterman’s mayoral role was part-time and paid very little, so he dressed casually — like most people in those local positions — but Fetterman’s casual clothes were an oversized hoodie and shorts.
In 2019, Fetterman became Pennsylvania’s Democratic lieutenant governor. Fetterman continued to dress in hoodies and shorts. The media started to refer to Fetterman’s hoodie and shorts as his uniform. There are, however, numerous photographs of Fetterman wearing a suit and tie while performing his professional duties.