In another setback for anyone hoping the Democratic Party might regain even a hint of sanity, one of the few remaining lawmakers in their caucus who isn’t fully captured by the far-left fringe — Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania — has been sidelined after collapsing during a morning walk near his home.

Fetterman’s office released a public statement on X confirming the senator had suffered a medical emergency that caused him to fall and injure his face. For a party increasingly dominated by extremists like AOC, Rashida Tlaib, and the newly installed socialist mayor of New York City, losing one of the few moderate-ish Democrats, even briefly, is certainly not the news they needed.

Reports began circulating quickly on social media, with news accounts sharing the alarming details. Collin Rugg of Trending Politics News posted, “BREAKING: Democrat Senator John Fetterman hospitalized after suffering from a fall and hitting his face. Fetterman reportedly collapsed from a ‘ventricular fibrillation flare-up’ during a walk this morning.”

A ventricular fibrillation episode — essentially the heart misfiring in a dangerous, erratic rhythm — is no small matter. The senator’s team said he became lightheaded, collapsed, and hit the ground, resulting in what they called “minor injuries,” though any fall involving heart complications raises significant questions.

The official statement, shared around 1 p.m. on Thursday, read: “During an early morning walk, Senator Fetterman sustained a fall near his home in Braddock. Out of an abundance of caution, he was transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh.”

It continued: “Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries.”

To his credit, Fetterman kept his sense of humor, joking in the statement: “If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!”

According to staff, Fetterman opted to remain in the hospital so doctors could “fine-tune his medication regimen.” They added that he is “doing well and receiving routine observation,” and he is grateful for the EMTs and medical personnel treating him.

While conservatives have frequently criticized Fetterman for his politics — especially during his rocky Senate campaign — a surprising number of right-leaning commenters expressed genuine sympathy and well-wishes.

Comments ranged from “Wish you the best for a speedy recovery” to “Wishing good health & saying a prayer for John.” Others struck a respectful bipartisan note: “Hey @SenFettermanPA, we don’t agree on politics but MAGA appreciates you for being a decent person who keeps it real. Wishing you a speedy recovery!”

Even critics acknowledged that, compared to the rest of his party, Fetterman often comes across as refreshingly authentic — a far cry from the elite, out-of-touch politicos surrounding him in Washington. As one Pennsylvanian wrote, “As someone in PA that hated you when campaigning – I wish you the best recovery possible. You’ve been a surprisingly GREAT rep, for what it’s worth.”

For now, Democrats lose the one member of their caucus who occasionally pushes back on their most unhinged ideas. The hope — shared by both sides of the aisle — is that he makes a full and quick recovery.