Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has made a promise that might make his party's strategists wince: he won't lift a finger to defeat his Republican colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), when McCormick runs for reelection in 2030.
"I would never, ever move against my friend," Fetterman told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday, calling McCormick a "great guy." He stopped short of saying whether he'd actually endorse McCormick, but the message was clear: don't count on him to campaign against his buddy.
This isn't just political chit-chat. The two have formalized their partnership. Federal Election Commission records show Common Ground PA, a joint fundraising committee involving Fetterman for PA and Friends of Dave McCormick, registered on July 6. They've also teamed up on legislation and appeared together in public.
McCormick returned the love on Sunday. "I really respect John," he said, while arguing that Fetterman has become popular by challenging what he called Democratic Party "craziness." He also described Fetterman as a "good partner in Pennsylvania."
Cross-Party Stances Reshape Fetterman's Profile
Fetterman's willingness to break with his party has become a defining feature of his Senate career. He opposed Democratic efforts to restrict Trump's Iran war powers. He was the only Senate Democrat to vote against multiple April resolutions seeking to restrict Trump's authority to continue military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.
He's also joined a smaller group of Democrats resisting efforts to block U.S. weapons sales to Israel, including Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) push. Fetterman said last month that he has "no plans" to leave the Democratic Party, but would reconsider if it formally became "the anti-Israel party," calling Israel a matter of "moral clarity."
Political Coalition Shifts Across Pennsylvania
That positioning has dramatically reshaped his political coalition. A July Quinnipiac University poll found 48% of Pennsylvania voters approved of Fetterman's performance and 41% disapproved. Republicans approved 77%-12%, while Democrats disapproved 69%-19%. Fifty-two percent said they wanted him to leave the Democratic Party.
Fetterman's next election comes in 2028, while McCormick would next face voters in 2030. His pledge means Pennsylvania Democrats could enter that race without campaign help from the state's other sitting senator, a striking break from normal partisan politics.
