Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has been a lifelong Democrat, but lately he's been giving his party colleagues the kind of anxiety usually reserved for checking your bank account after a Vegas trip. As Conservative Brief reported, the hoodie-wearing senator dropped an ultimatum last week that has the Democratic caucus collectively reaching for the Tums.
Fetterman declared he would officially change his party registration if opposing Israel becomes part of the Democratic platform. That's the first time Big John has actually spelled out a specific scenario that would send him packing, and boy did it get people talking.
One anonymous Democratic senator, who requested anonymity so he could actually speak his mind (because that's how things work in the world's greatest deliberative body), summed it up with two words: "I am concerned." Pulitzer Prize material right there, senator.
But wait, there's more! Fetterman also created a joint fundraising committee with Republican Senator Dave McCormick, his Pennsylvania colleague and apparently his new political bestie. For those keeping score at home, forming a fundraising partnership across party lines is about as common as a humble politician. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who previously chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said he'd never witnessed anything like it.
Progressive Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio, who hasn't ruled out challenging Fetterman when his term ends in 2028, called the bipartisan money operation "crazy stuff" and complained that Fetterman is essentially helping Republicans raise cash to defeat Democrats. Meanwhile, Fetterman brushed it off, telling the Washington Examiner that it's "nothing sinister" and just involves shared interests for their home state.
Fetterman has been drifting from the Democratic mainstream on several fronts. His support for Israel, the Iran conflict, and border security has ruffled progressive feathers. He also recently took shots at progressives for backing a candidate named Platner in Maine's Senate contest, because apparently picking fights with your own team is his new hobby.
Perhaps most deliciously, Fetterman now says he regrets calling for eliminating the filibuster during his 2022 campaign. He praised former Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for protecting the supermajority rule and said his entire party was wrong about wanting to ditch it. He shared these thoughts on a conservative podcast hosted by Katie Miller, who happens to be married to White House adviser Stephen Miller. Talk about a plot twist nobody saw coming.
When asked if he thought he could survive a Democratic primary, Fetterman offered the most politician non-answer possible: "I guess we'll see." He hasn't even announced whether he'll run again.
His former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, who now runs a Democratic think tank, offered a spicy prediction. He suggested Fetterman might bolt the party "in order to stay relevant," especially if Democrats win a Senate majority by just one seat. In that scenario, Jentleson believes Fetterman would flip because of the enormous attention it would generate.
So basically, Democrats are watching one of their senators slowly back toward the exit while insisting he's totally still committed to the relationship. Classic.
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