On a Friday afternoon in downtown Philadelphia, a group of retirees and fired federal workers gathered at the corner of South 2nd and Chestnut streets.
Their anger wasn’t just directed at President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, or the administration’s recent actions — they were also upset with a fellow Democrat, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
These protesters reflect the frustration of about 73% of Democratic voters, according to a recent CNN/SSRS poll, who feel that the party’s congressional caucus isn’t doing enough to oppose Trump.
They believe Fetterman and other Democrats in Washington are allowing illegal firings of federal workers and weakening the rule of law.
“I understand bipartisanship is important in normal times, but these aren’t normal times,” said Robert Lipartito, a 69-year-old retired music librarian from Pennsport.
He argued that there’s no room for compromise when institutions are being dismantled and alliances are being abandoned.
The protesters, organized by a local chapter of Indivisible — a progressive movement founded after Trump’s 2016 election — marched from Fetterman’s Philadelphia office to Independence National Historic Park, chanting “Stand up for us” while passersby honked in support.
“If we elected you, you need to fight for us,” said Joyce Meder, a 64-year-old from Abington Township. Dressed in a Fetterman costume, she held a sign demanding that Fetterman hold a town hall to hear voters’ concerns and show up for key votes.
Democrats have raised alarms over Republican plans to fund tax cuts by slashing hundreds of billions from government programs, possibly including Medicaid.
Meanwhile, a government shutdown looms unless Congress passes a funding bill. Democrats are debating whether to support a Republican-drafted spending measure or push for concessions.
Fetterman opposes using a shutdown as leverage against Trump’s agenda. “That’s chaos,” Fetterman told CNN. “I’ll never vote for chaos. It’s our responsibility to keep the government running.”
Growing Frustration Across the Party
It’s not just progressives who are frustrated. Michelle Flamer, a centrist attorney from West Philadelphia, said she feels compelled to protest her party because she expects accountability. “Our nation’s on fire, and we’re in a constitutional crisis,” the 68-year-old said.
She was shocked when House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently questioned what leverage Democrats have in Washington, given that Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House.
Flamer likened the situation to Philadelphia’s free Black population in the mid-1800s. “They had no power, but they still fought. It’s about persistence,” she said.
Many Democrats want their party to take a stronger stance. In Clarion, local Democratic organizers are planning to challenge sitting Democrats in primaries, urging them to fight harder, block Trump’s nominees, and improve outreach to rural voters.
“They need to use every tool available to block anything harmful,” said Kali McLaughlin, a rural Pennsylvania resident with multiple sclerosis who volunteers to mobilize voters.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin and Jeffries recently held a national call to outline their strategy for opposing Trump’s agenda.
Jeffries emphasized using legal challenges and strategic messaging to win back the House.
Rural Democrats Feel Overlooked
The anger isn’t confined to cities — it’s also boiling over in rural America. Bobbi Erickson, a cook at an elementary school in Jefferson County, volunteers daily to rally support for local Democrats.
“There’s a war in rural Pennsylvania,” Erickson said. “We’re fighting every day to get votes, but if Democrats worked half as hard as we do, I wouldn’t be protesting Fetterman.”
Cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs could devastate her community. “We already don’t have hospitals. We drive over an hour to get to the maternity ward. We need someone to fight for us,” Erickson said.
She helped Fetterman’s 2022 campaign, even dressing as broccoli in a campaign video to mock his opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz. “If he fought as hard now as we did to get him elected, I wouldn’t need to protest,” she said.
When asked about the frustration from Democratic voters, Fetterman defended his record. “There are a lot of Democrats in Pennsylvania,” he said, adding that he won’t engage in performative protests but remains committed to his values.
Abigail Grimes-Haldiman of Elk County, a transgender woman, canvasses alongside Erickson.
She feels Democrats have allowed Republicans to control the political narrative, fueling misinformation and fear about the trans community.
“Democrats have let Republicans demonize us,” Grimes-Haldiman said. “They need to fight back.”
The growing frustration among Democrats shows that many voters want stronger opposition and clearer messaging from their party.
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