Bipartisan fundraising committee Common Ground PA established by Pennsylvania senators
The fundraising committee, named Common Ground PA, was established as a joint venture between the two Pennsylvania senators, according to Federal Election Commission filings first reported by Politico. The arrangement allows donors to contribute to a single fund that supports both senators’ re-election campaigns. Fetterman’s principal campaign committee, Fetterman for PA, reported approximately $1.99 million in cash on hand in its latest FEC filing.
The creation of the bipartisan committee prompted immediate speculation about Fetterman’s political future. Rick Wilson, a longtime political consultant and anti-Trump activist, posted on social media in response to the news: “He’s gonna flip.” Nick Field, a Pennsylvania-based political writer, wrote that “Fetterman caucusing with the Republicans in 2027, and even trying to run in 2028 with their support, looks likelier and likelier by the day.” Mike Nellis, a Democratic political strategist, said that Democrats should assume Fetterman “is a Republican going forward, and we can’t rely on his vote – especially when it comes to judges.”
Fetterman, who built his reputation as a vocal progressive and early supporter of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, has steadily moved away from many of his earlier left-leaning positions since entering the Senate. Since Donald Trump began his second term, Fetterman has been the only Democrat to support the confirmation of several of Trump’s cabinet nominees, has backed parts of the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda, and has supported the U.S. war with Iran. The votes have drawn repeated criticism from members of his own party.
In a Washington Post opinion piece published in May, Fetterman wrote: “Being an independent voice that works with the other side to deliver for Pennsylvanians might put me at odds with the party that I have stayed committed to and have no plans to leave – but I will continue to put the commonwealth and the country first. Plus, I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”
Despite their different party affiliations, Fetterman and McCormick have collaborated on multiple issues and have publicly referred to each other as close friends. Last month, they appeared together in Philadelphia to encourage Pennsylvania parents to sign their children up for Trump accounts.
Neither senator currently holds majority approval among Pennsylvania voters. A Quinnipiac poll from February found that 46% of voters approved of Fetterman’s overall job performance, while McCormick received a 37% job approval rating.