WASHINGTON — Maverick Sen. John Fetterman ruled out the possibility of campaigning against his Pennsylvania colleague Sen. Dave McCormick, underscoring the close friendship they’ve cultivated.
Despite hailing from different parties, Fetterman (D-Pa.) and McCormick (R-Pa.) have emerged as a rare bipartisan duo in the Senate and recently launched a joint fundraising committee.
“Well, I would absolutely never move against my friend,” Fetterman told the Washington Examiner, declining to specify whether he would endorse McCormick.
“I would never, ever move against my friend.”
There are only three states that currently have senators who caucus with different parties: Maine, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Ironically, the two men were almost opponents in the 2022 election cycle. McCormick vied for the Republican nod, but ultimately lost to Dr. Mehmet Oz in a close primary fight. The former Bridgewater Associates CEO went on to defeat former Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in 2024.
Throughout his time in the Senate, McCormick has repeatedly defended Fetterman in public, including from attacks by the senior senator’s former staffers.
McCormick has also tried to get Fetterman to flip to the Republican side, but the maverick senator has vehemently ruled that out.
“I’m not going to be a Republican,” Fetterman told NBC’s “Meet the Press NOW” last month.
“I would just remind anybody that I’ve been very clear on that, whether it’s the president or the Republicans [who] are putting down perfectly loyal conservative senators — whether it’s [Texas Sen. John] Cornyn or [Louisiana Sen. Bill] Cassidy or these people.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has defended Fetterman from attacks he has faced from the left flank of the party, underscoring how he usually votes with Democrats on key issues.
But Fetterman hasn’t been shy about criticizing the party, especially over Israel or during government shutdown showdowns.
The hulking, shorts-wearing senator has a whopping 69% disapproval rating among Democratic voters in his home state while just 19% approve, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.
Among Republicans, however, 77% approve of Fetterman’s job performance, compared to 12% who disapprove of him.
Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028, and McCormick isn’t up until 2030.
