Fetterman: I'm Sticking With Democratic Party

Sen. John Fetterman wants Republicans to drop the recruitment fantasy. In a Washington Post op-ed published Thursday, the Pennsylvania Democrat said he has "no plans to leave" his party, even as he criticizes Democrats on immigration and foreign policy. Fetterman, who has broken sharply with his party over Israel and Iran and has been notably open to praising President Trump, argued that his core positions remain unchanged: He called himself "strongly pro-choice, pro-weed, pro-LGBT, pro-SNAP, pro-labor," and joked he's also "pro-rib-eye over bio slop."

His rightward shift, however, has brought some political isolation, including a frosty relationship with the state's Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and frustration among rank-and-file Democrats who feel misled by his evolution. Still, Fetterman noted he "overwhelmingly" votes with Democrats and said the party, not him, has moved on issues like border security and Iran. As for GOP hopes he might switch sides, he dismissed them bluntly: "I'd be a terrible Republican." Even so, the New York Times reports that a recent poll of Pennsylvania voters found just 22% of Democrats approved of Fetterman's job performance—compared to 73% of Republicans. Pennsylvania's other senator, Republican Dave McCormick, tells NBC 10 he'd "welcome" Fetterman into the GOP any time.