John Fetterman

President Donald Trump publicly urged Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party and become a Republican, weeks before the 2026 midterm elections. Fetterman has repeatedly said he will not switch parties, though he has continued to vote with Republicans on several issues.

An analysis by the Philadelphia Inquirer examined Fetterman's Senate record and found he attends few of his committee meetings and makes few public appearances in Pennsylvania. His office did not respond to the report, and he has described past absentee-senator accusations as smears while floating a 2028 reelection bid.

At the Texas Tribune Festival, Fetterman rejected claims that he is a poor senator and a poor Democrat, and said Democrats should allow a wider range of views. He said he is fundraising for a possible 2028 reelection campaign and will decide after the midterms.

Fetterman appeared in a surprise video at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, praising Pennsylvania GOP Senator Dave McCormick and describing himself as a commonsense Democrat. The appearance drew criticism from members of his own party.

Fetterman voted to reopen the federal government after the shutdown, calling the shutdown a failure and apologizing to affected workers and service members. His stance highlighted his increasingly independent posture within the Democratic Party.

In July 2025, Fetterman broke with many Democrats by opposing the GOP-backed tax and spending package that advanced in Congress. He said he could not support cuts to Medicaid or SNAP and criticized the rushed process used to pass the 940-page bill.

John Fetterman drew significant attention in May 2025 after a New York magazine report raised concerns about his behavior and mental health, which he strongly rejected as a misleading one-source hit piece. He publicly disputed claims that he had missed medical appointments or medication doses, turning the story into a broader political and personal controversy.