Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman sought to tamp down speculation about his political future on Wednesday, vowing to remain a Democrat if his party wins the Senate in November.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party-and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on,” Fetterman said in a statement to The Washington Sun.
Fetterman spoke out after his surprise cameo at the Republican convention in Dallas earlier Wednesday night. In a short video appearance, Fetterman criticized democratic socialists and praised his fellow Pennsylvania senator, Republican Dave McCormick. The appearance was highly unusual and drew sharp criticism from some Pennsylvania Democrats.
The senator told The Sun his comments were meant to introduce McCormick “as a great American and friend.”
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“We are in different parties, but are both Team PA,” Fetterman said in the statement. “We have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars back to Pennsylvania, fought for improved transportation and affordable housing, and the Steel Way of Life.”
Speculation has grown rampant within both parties about Fetterman’s political future in recent months following his criticism of Democrats while their odds of taking control of the Senate have grown ahead of the November midterms. Some former Fetterman aides have expressed concern he could leave the party in a scenario where Democrats win a Senate majority by a single seat in November, giving him more influence.
Earlier this year, Fetterman said his “red line” for departure would be if the party officially adopts an “anti-Israel” platform. He also set up a joint fundraising committee with McCormick, another highly unusual move that raised eyebrows among his Senate colleagues.
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