Fetterman says he will stay a Democrat as Republicans recruit him
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said he would not switch parties after appearing by video at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party – and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on,” Fetterman said in a statement later Wednesday.
Republicans have made clear that they are trying to recruit him. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters recently that he and other Republican senators had held “conversations” with Fetterman and “would welcome the opportunity” to have him join the GOP.
McCormick publicly defended Fetterman during the Democratic criticism.
The party affiliation of Pennsylvania’s Democratic senator could affect control of the chamber. Democrats need to gain four GOP-held Senate seats in November’s midterm elections to regain the majority. If Fetterman joined the Republican Party, Democrats would need to gain another seat to control the Senate.
Fetterman’s surprise convention appearance included praise for McCormick, his fellow Pennsylvania senator. The video prompted criticism from several Democrats.
Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said his constituents and other people in the state were frustrated and disappointed with Fetterman.
“I’ve been all over not just my district of Pennsylvania, trying to help us flip the most competitive congressional races. And John Fetterman is nowhere to be found,” Deluzio said.
“And frankly, folks don’t want him on the trail,” Deluzio added. “He’s spending his time, frankly, going on rightwing media to bash the Democrats.”
Fetterman has repeatedly appeared on Fox News, which The Guardian described as a rightwing cable network. The Guardian reported that those appearances have repeatedly frustrated his colleagues.
Former Rep. Conor Lamb, whom Fetterman defeated in the Democratic Party’s 2022 US Senate primary, said the convention video had “all the persuasiveness of a North Korean newscast.”
Lamb is among several Pennsylvania Democrats who say they are considering Senate campaigns in 2028, when Fetterman will be up for re-election. Lamb said party officials in Pennsylvania had “already assumed Fetterman is a non-factor” in the race.
Commentator Stephen A Smith accused Fetterman of having spat in the faces of Democrats by appearing in the convention video.
“It’s another thing entirely to be a Democrat and be a part of a hype video at a Republican convention,” Smith said. “That is just pretty much spitting in the face of Democrats who elected you to office.”
Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, who is close with Fetterman, offered a supportive assessment in a statement to Politico before the convention appearance. Welch said commenting on Fetterman’s future in the party was a “waste of energy.”
“John Fetterman is a friend and an important member of our caucus,” Welch said. “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.”