Overview
- In a Washington Post op-ed published Thursday, Sen. John Fetterman said he has no plans to leave the Democratic Party and wrote that he would be a “terrible Republican” who still votes mostly with Democrats.
- Republican outreach reported by Politico includes Sean Hannity saying President Donald Trump urged him to promise support and money if Fetterman switched, though Sen. Dave McCormick said he has not asked Fetterman to change parties and would simply welcome him if he did.
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro urged Fetterman on CNN to honor voters who elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and to stay focused on his duties.
- Fetterman defended his record by pointing to liberal core views and bipartisan work, even as his breaks with Democrats on immigration, government shutdown votes, Israel, and Trump’s nominees have drawn protests from progressives.
- Republicans see a switch or an independent alignment that caucuses with the GOP as a way to help keep control of the Senate, a power balance set by which party independents choose to organize with rather than by party labels alone.