Fetterman pledges 51st vote if Democrats retake Senate
The video served as an introduction for McCormick, a Republican whom Fetterman considers a close friend. In his remarks, Fetterman cast himself as a “common-sense Democrat” and rejected “the extremes of socialism and that anti-American way of life,” part of a continuing critique of his own party as a progressive flank gains influence.
Fetterman and McCormick have developed a close bipartisan relationship in recent months, as Fetterman has grown farther apart from his party. McCormick had proposed the video and Fetterman was happy to do it, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person said the arrangement was in place and the video was finalized before a Wall Street Journal article that found Fetterman showed little interest in doing his job. McCormick defended Fetterman after the story was published, saying left-wing forces were trying to “cancel” an “independent thinker who refuses to fall into line.”
The Senate math gives Democrats narrow margins. In the 53-47 GOP-controlled chamber, they need a net gain of four seats. Such a flip would require winning Republican-held seats in states such as North Carolina, Alaska, Ohio and Maine while holding their own lines. If Democrats were to win control 51-49 and Fetterman then changed parties to make it 50-50, control would revert to Republicans because Vice President JD Vance presides over the Senate and can break ties.
Some Democrats described Fetterman’s convention video as confirmation that his standing with Pennsylvania voters is already compromised, regardless of whether he remains in the party.
“The convention appearance was not met with shock, surprise or a feeling of betrayal here. It was met with eye rolls and people saying, ‘Of course he did that,’” said Mark Moss, the Bethlehem City, Pa., Democratic committee chair. “He has no base of support left any longer here in Pennsylvania.”
Former Rep. Conor Lamb (D., Pa.), who lost the 2022 primary to Fetterman and is seen as a possible 2028 contender for the seat, said Fetterman “is a selfish person interested in self-preservation, and so I think if the way that the November elections shake out, if he believes there’s some deal he can cut and stay in the party and survive, he’ll try to do it.” Lamb added: “If he believes the deal to be cut is with the Republicans, he’ll do that.”
Other Democrats defended the senator. “He is a friend and an important member of our caucus. It’s a waste of energy to get spun up about his voting record or place in our party—he votes with us 90% of the time,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D., Vt.). “We need a big tent if we’re going to win in November.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) had dinner with Fetterman last month. A spokeswoman for Schumer did not respond to a question about whether Fetterman gave Schumer advance notice of the video.
The convention appearance fits a pattern from Fetterman’s first term. During President Trump’s second term, Fetterman has been a defender of Israel and its military operations in Gaza, unlike many Democrats, and has regularly criticized party colleagues for what he sees as their undue hostility toward Trump.
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D., Pa.), another possible contender for Fetterman’s seat, was blunter. “If he wants to throw in with the Republican politicians who are failing, about to lose in the midterms, they can have him,” Deluzio said. “This guy is not going to be a senator after 2028.”
Cross-party convention appearances are rare. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, an independent who caucused with Democrats, spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention to endorse Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) for president. In 2004, Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia delivered a keynote speech at the RNC.