Top staffers for Democrat John Fetterman are leaving his office for more progressive jobs as the Pennsylvania senator moves more to the center on key issues.
The average Democrat, who likes Carhartt hoodies and a goatee in disarray, has staunchly supported Israel’s war against Hamas and denounced the call for a ceasefire.
He has also spoken out support for increased U.S. border security, another position that puts him at odds with his party.
The freshman Democrat was elected after winning the support of some of Congress’ most liberal members in 2022.
The towering 6-foot-2 senator previously endorsed Democrat-socialist Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during his 2016 presidential run and was endorsed by progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
While campaigning, he always called for health care reform and an increase in the minimum wage, but now he is distancing himself from his party’s most liberal factions.
And because of his shift to the center, three of his top communications staff are fleeing his office for greener and more progressive pastures.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and staffer Joe Calvello (R), who served on the Democratic campaign and on the Senate staff, left office earlier this month
The departure of his staff comes as Fetterman has split from other progressive lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Joe Calvello, Fetterman’s communications director who helped him navigate a tumultuous Senate race while working on the campaign, left earlier this month to work with liberal Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“Mayor Johnson is a true progressive who is committed to fighting for the working people and families of the city of Chicago, and I am deeply honored to join his administration,” Calvello said in a speech. rack earlier this month.
Nick Gavio, Fetterman’s deputy communications director who started his campaign, will leave office at the end of this month to work for the Working Families Party, according to the newspaper. Philadelphia researcher.
The Working Families Party has some of the most progressive lawmakers as members, including “Squad” Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, D-Mo., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
Both Calvello and Gavio are veterans of Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.
Emma Mustion, who served in Fetterman’s office as a press and digital assistant, also left the office to work for Sen. Bob Casey’s reelection.
The recent departure comes as Fetterman has been outspoken about not wanting to be identified as a progressive.
“I’m not a progressive,” the Pennsylvanian said NBC News in December. “I just think I’m a Democrat who’s very interested in choices and other things. But when it comes to Israel, I’m on the right side.
“And immigration is something that is close to my heart, and I think we need to tackle it effectively.”
The Democrat has been a staunch supporter of Israel and has broken with his party by saying Israel should not enter into a ceasefire with Hamas.
“It’s a reasonable conversation — until someone can say there’s an explanation for what we might do if 270,000 people are found at the border, not counting the people we don’t know about, of course.”
“Just for reference, that’s essentially the size of Pittsburgh, the second largest city in Pennsylvania.”
DailyMail.com reached out to Fetterman’s office for comment on the exodus of his staffers.