Sen. Fetterman could have dramatic impact on US Senate after midterms - USA Today
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman isn't on the ballot, but he could have a dramatic impact on the Senate in the coming months.
The Pennsylvania senator was elected in 2022 as a Democrat. But as he's shown staunch support for Israel, the U.S.' attacks in Iran and multiple federal nominees from President Donald Trump, there's been rampant speculation about whether or not he'll leave the party.
Here's what that could mean following the 2026 midterms.
Fetterman has said he is not changing parties, though there's been repeated speculation that he won't remain a Democrat, as well as encouragement from Trump for him to become a Republican.
"It's gonna be hard for him to get the nomination as a Democrat, but I’d love to have him as a Republican," Trump said to reporters at Joint Base Adrews on Oct. 10. "If you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat."
In September, Fetterman shouted at reporters over the issue. In a video published by CSPAN on X, Fetterman raised his voice, telling reporters, "I'm not going to be a Republican. You know, why can't you guys just wait 'til the midterm? And if I turn a Republican, then I'll be a liar, then."
Fetterman could change parties if he wanted and join more than 20 other senators who have done the same, including Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona, and Joe Manchin, I-West Virginia, two former senators who left the Democratic Party to become independents in the early 2020s during their time in office.
While there's the possibility that Democrats could take control of the Senate in the 2026 midterm election, if Fetterman leaves the party, they could lose control again.
A similar situation happened in 2001, Public Affairs Council reported, when then-Sen. Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an independent who caucused with the Democrats, flipping who had control of the chamber.
Even as a Democrat, Fetterman has repeatedly broken from his party to vote with Republicans.
On numerous occasions since the start of the year, Fetterman has voted to stop Congress from limiting Trump's ability to attack Iran without oversight, sometimes casting the deciding vote. He's cleared the way for Trump nominees to take high-level positions, voting to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general, Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin as Noem's replacement, and more.
Fetterman has also been a staunch supporter of Israel, saying that if Democrats stop showing support for Israel, he will leave the party.
"If they put that in our platform — no aid for Israel — and officially become the anti-Israel party, then yeah, that’s a red line for me," Fetterman told NBC News. "Democrats, we always should support Israel. That’s our special ally, you know? In the only democracy in the entire region, that’s Israel. So I’m always proud to stand with Israel."
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
