Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has stated he would "absolutely" not campaign against or work against his Pennsylvania colleague, Republican Sen. Dave McCormick. Fetterman cited the close friendship the two senators have cultivated, highlighting their bipartisan relationship.
Fetterman and McCormick represent a rare bipartisan pairing in the Senate, with only three states currently having senators who caucus with different parties. The two senators recently established a joint fundraising committee.
"I would absolutely never move against my friend," Fetterman told the Washington Examiner. "I would never, ever move against my friend." He declined to specify whether he would endorse McCormick.
McCormick, who serves as CEO of Bridgewater Associates, has previously defended Fetterman publicly, including against criticism from former staffers. He also reportedly encouraged Fetterman to switch to the Republican party, a notion Fetterman has rejected.
Fetterman has maintained he is not going to become a Republican. He has also expressed that he votes with Democrats on key issues, though he has not shied away from criticizing his own party, particularly regarding policy on Israel or during government shutdown debates.
Despite being a Democrat, Fetterman has shown a 69% disapproval rating among Democratic voters in Pennsylvania, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Conversely, 77% of Republican voters in the state approve of his job performance.
Fetterman's current Senate term is not up for reelection until 2028, while McCormick's term ends in 2030. The two senators were nearly opponents in the 2022 election cycle, when McCormick sought the Republican nomination but lost the primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz.