A bipartisan group of political strategists recently debated whether Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is better suited for the Democratic Party, his current affiliation, or the Republican Party. The discussion follows a Wall Street Journal report that highlighted multiple instances where Fetterman allegedly demonstrated indifference to his duties and constituents.
Mike Nellis, a former adviser to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, humorously suggested a trade. "You can have him, frankly," Nellis said, proposing to swap Fetterman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. "I'll make you a deal. We'll swap out [Mitch] McConnell and Fetterman."
Fetterman has faced criticism from within his own party, with the anger intensifying after the Journal's report. The report cited over a dozen former staffers and lawmakers, suggesting the senator is more interested in engaging with conservative media outlets. One instance cited involved Fetterman allegedly avoiding a meeting with paralyzed veterans by claiming illness, only to appear in an interview with Fox News shortly thereafter to discuss international affairs.
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) voiced his dissatisfaction on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "John Fetterman is a disgrace. Our state deserves better than a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job."
Despite these critiques, Fetterman has stated he will not switch to the GOP, even as his popularity among Republicans appears to be growing while his standing with Democrats wanes. In May, he declared he wouldn't switch parties, but in June, he indicated he might leave the Democrats if the party became overtly anti-Israel.
Dina Doll of MeidasTouch suggested that Fetterman's appeal to Fox News is rooted in his criticism of his own party. "He's made it very clear he's ready to jump ship if the Republicans need him come the midterms," Doll told a CNN panel. "But the fact is, he will no longer be a Fox News darling if that happens because he does vote with Democrats most of the time, and Fox loves him because he criticizes his own party. Is he willing to criticize Republicans? Probably not."
When asked by CNN host Abby Phillip if Republicans would welcome Fetterman, GOP strategist Scott Jennings replied, "I think you'd want all the votes you can get in a closely divided chamber." Jennings added that he admired Fetterman's "backbone" and his willingness to stand up to "this angry mob that runs the Democratic Party." He also acknowledged Fetterman's "constituent services issue," noting that effective constituent services contribute to reelection and sustained popularity.
However, when Phillip posed the same question to GOP strategist Tim Parrish, he responded, "Uh, no." Parrish stated, "He is where he is supposed to be. Millions of Pennsylvanians voted for him."
Nellis countered that Republicans might prefer Fetterman remain a Democrat, using him as a "useful idiot" to embarrass the party. "You guys want him because he embarrasses us," Nellis told Jennings.