Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said he will not campaign against Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) if McCormick seeks reelection in 2030, underscoring the unusually close relationship between the two Pennsylvania senators.
Fetterman Rules Out Campaigning Against McCormick
"I would never, ever move against my friend," Fetterman told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday, calling McCormick a "great guy." He said he would not campaign against McCormick, though he stopped short of saying whether he would endorse him.
Their partnership has become unusually formal. Federal Election Commission records show Common Ground PA, a joint fundraising committee involving Fetterman for PA and Friends of Dave McCormick, registered on July 6. The senators have also collaborated on legislation and appeared together publicly.
McCormick returned the praise on Sunday. "I really respect John," he said, while arguing Fetterman has become popular by challenging what he called Democratic Party "craziness." He also described Fetterman as a "good partner in Pennsylvania."
Cross-Party Stances Reshape Fetterman’s Profile
Fetterman’s willingness to cross party lines has increasingly defined his Senate profile. He opposed Democratic efforts to restrict Trump’s Iran war powers. He was the only Senate Democrat to vote against multiple April resolutions seeking to restrict Trump’s authority to continue military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.
He has also joined a smaller group of Democrats resisting efforts to block U.S. weapons sales to Israel, including Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) push. Fetterman said last month that he has "no plans" to leave the Democratic Party, but would reconsider if it formally became "the anti-Israel party," calling Israel a matter of "moral clarity."
Political Coalition Shifts Across Pennsylvania
That positioning has dramatically reshaped his political coalition. A July Quinnipiac University poll found 48% of Pennsylvania voters approved of Fetterman’s performance and 41% disapproved. Republicans approved 77%-12%, while Democrats disapproved 69%-19%. Fifty-two percent said they wanted him to leave the Democratic Party.
Fetterman’s next election comes in 2028, while McCormick would next face voters in 2030. His pledge means Pennsylvania Democrats could enter that race without campaign help from the state’s other sitting senator, a striking break from normal partisan politics.
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