Fetterman says Democrats lost male voters by being insulting, condescending

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., believes the Democratic Party has turned off male voters by being "insulting."

"Telling them that 'I know better than you do,' that's not helpful," Fetterman said, characterizing what he saw as the party's approach to courting men.

Trump secured a strong majority of the male vote in the 2024 election cycle, making notable strides with Blacks, Latinos and younger male voters in particular.

Fetterman recalled a 2016 event where he noted Trump's resonance with male voters and what he deemed a poor party response.

"I was doing an event with the steel workers, across the street where I live, and I was noticing [a] different kind of energy with this, with Trump. It was clear at that time that people were voting for Trump. And the Democrats' response was, 'Aren't they smart enough to realize they're voting against their interests?'" he said.

"And that's insulting, and that's, I mean, that's, that's just not helpful. It's condescending. And if anything, that reinforces that kind of stereotype."

Trump narrowly won Pennsylvania during his election victories in 2016 and 2024 and lost a tight race there to Joe Biden in 2020. The winner of Pennsylvania has won the White House in five consecutive presidential races.

Fetterman admitted Democratic leaders need to consider just talking straight to men, or the "bros," as he put it. 

"Have a conversation. Have a conversation with anyone that's willing to have an honest conversation. That's always been the rule, and that's what I'm going to continue," he told the Times.