John Fetterman has said it is “entirely possible” that Democrats could win control of the US Senate in the midterm elections, while refusing to clarify whether he will seek re-election or remain with the party.
The Pennsylvania senator told the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin that the questions surrounding his political future should be revisited after the midterms. “Let’s revisit after the midterm,” he said.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, with the electoral map initially appearing to favour the party. But persistent affordability concerns during Donald Trump’s administration and opposition to the war with Iran have improved the outlook for Democrats, who are seeking to take control of the chamber.
Fetterman, who secured a closely watched Democratic victory in Pennsylvania in 2022, has attracted scrutiny for breaking with his party on a number of issues. Asked whether he might leave the Democrats, he said he did not “have a reason to” and stressed: “I am not a Republican.”
He nevertheless urged voters to wait until after the election to judge his next move. “Let’s see what happens if I happen to be 51 — I don’t know,” he said.
Fetterman recently appeared by video at a Republican midterm convention, where he introduced Pennsylvania’s Republican senator, Dave McCormick, and pledged to work with Mr Trump on steel. But he said he had “no path as a Republican”, arguing that the party did not include politicians with his voting record and views on abortion and gay rights.
“There are no Republicans with a 90% Democratic vote line,” he said. “There are no pro-choice, there’s no pro-gay community, that does not exist in the Republican Party.”
On whether he would stand again in 2028, Fetterman said he had been actively fundraising but indicated that the decision would also come after the midterms. Pennsylvania is one of two states represented by one Democrat and one Republican in the Senate, alongside Wisconsin.
Fetterman says party comes second to country
The senator questioned the direction of the Democratic Party, referring to attendance at an event featuring streamer Hasan Piker and what he described as the party’s current “energy”. He also highlighted his support for Israel, saying more members of his Senate caucus were becoming “more and more anti-Israel”.
He said his opposition to recent government shutdowns had also put him at odds with fellow Democrats. “I’ve chosen to be country over the party, knowing that some of these decisions are going to put me at odds,” he said.
Fetterman said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was expected to remain in his role if Democrats won the majority, adding that he would vote for him. He described a poll showing Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek leading in Iowa as “shocking” and praised Mr Schumer for recruiting what he called “an incredibly strong class” of candidates.
“It’s irrelevant until what happens in the midterm,” Fetterman said.
