Republican state senators in Pennsylvania refuse to seat reelected Democrat On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Republican state senators refused to seat Democratic Senator Jim Brewster, whose narrow reelection victory in November is being challenged by his Republican opponent. When the presiding officer, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, a Democrat, objected to the motion and insisted that Brewster be sworn in, the Republicans, who control the legislative chamber, forced Fetterman from the podium and took control of the proceedings. The extraordinary move triggered a shouting match, while Fetterman stood silent at the podium as Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, a Republican, put forward a motion to replace him as presiding officer with himself. The motion passed on a party-line vote, after which the newly elected members of the Senate, with the exception of Brewster, were sworn in.