Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., indicated that Republicans would be open to welcoming Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., into their conference should he decide to leave the Democratic Party. The sentiment comes as Fetterman has expressed a willingness to leave the Democrats if the party officially becomes anti-Israel. Republicans are seeking to expand their narrow Senate majority.
"Yes, we would welcome him," Thune said in remarks reported by Fox News. "And I haven't talked to him recently. I have had conversations with him in the past, as have many of my colleagues, about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And, you know, there are many of us who I think would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference."
Fetterman, who was elected in 2022 on a progressive platform, has increasingly diverged from his Democratic colleagues on the issue of Israel's security. He has consistently supported Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza and has voted against resolutions aimed at reining in presidential authority in the region, often siding with Republicans.
Earlier this month, Fetterman stated to The Hill, "If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me."
His comments follow a period where a significant number of House Democrats have shown a shift in their stance on aid to Israel. Over half of the House Democratic caucus voted to end $3.3 billion in taxpayer-funded aid to Israel. Additionally, 40 Senate Democrats voted in April to halt certain arms sales and military equipment to Israel, including bulldozers and bombs, in protest against former President Trump's actions related to Iran.
Thune characterized the Democratic Party as moving "further and further, more radically, and to the more extreme left on a lot of issues." He suggested that individuals like Fetterman, whose views align with more historically moderate Democratic positions, "are really kind of people without a home."
"So if he ever comes to the conclusion that he's ready to move, we would certainly welcome it," Thune added. Fetterman's Senate seat is up for election in 2028.
