As Democrats target a narrow U.S. Senate majority in the upcoming midterms, control of the chamber could come down to a single vote, and Republicans apparently believe that vote could be none other than the sitting U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
According to Politico, the Senate GOP, along with President Donald Trump, are now quietly working to win Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) over either by flipping him outright or pulling him into an independent lane that could tip the balance of power.
Fetterman vs. Dems
As reported on Tuesday’s AM Update, Fetterman was elected in 2022 and is not up for re-election until 2028, but he has increasingly put distance between himself and his party.
A frequent face on Fox News, the senator often criticizes Democrats’ embrace of more progressive policies and candidates. A staunch supporter of Israel, he is also one of the few Dems backing the current U.S. posture toward Iran – once again putting him at odds with much of the caucus.
Outside of foreign policy, Fetterman has also broke with his party on key votes and supported several of President Trump’s nominees. Just last month, he cast the decisive vote to advance Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Fetterman even endorsed the president’s proposed White House ballroom, further fueling tensions with Democrats.
Latest Reporting
Last week, a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Malcolm Kenyatta, attacked Fetterman on social media. “Almost every day now my U.S. Senator comes on this site to attack his constituents and many people who worked hard to elect him. Suggesting that they have ‘derangement syndrome’ for opposing this administration,” he wrote. “You’re a mess, John Fetterman.”
Since taking office, Fetterman has reportedly developed close friendships with GOP Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania. He is now believed to be spending significant time with Republicans off the Senate floor, often joining them in the GOP cloakroom during long votes and avoiding Democrat-only social events.
According to Politico, those relationships have become central to the GOP’s quiet effort to pull Fetterman into their orbit. President Trump also got involved directly, recruiting Fox News host Sean Hannity to assist in the mission. During a recent interview with Fetterman, Hannity delivered a message he said came straight from the president:
“I did talk to Trump last night and I told him you were going to be on the show and he said your job is to tell him: He’s going to run as a Republican, he’s going to have our full support, more money than he ever dreamed of, and he’s going to win big.”
Standing Firm?
All of this has unfolded as Fetterman is facing growing political pressure back home. Despite not being up for re-election until 2028, his standing with Democrat voters in Pennsylvania has declined. But despite the polls and outreach, Fetterman has publicly insisted he is not going anywhere.
“I’m a Democrat, and I’m staying one,” he told Politico. “I’d be a shitty Republican.”
When NBC asked the first-term senator about party-switching in late March, he had a similar message. “As much as I’m friends with a lot of Republicans, including my parents, I’m not a Republican… People always say we have to be a big tent party,” he said. “I’ve had Republican friends in my state say you’re actually more popular than I am. A guy that votes a 93 percent Dem line. I’m mystified by that – I cant explain it.”
Behind the scenes, however, the door may not be entirely closed. According to GOP officials, when the idea of becoming an independent was raised, Fetterman did not immediately reject it.
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