Sen. John Fetterman’s increasingly public break with fellow Democrats is fueling new questions about his future in the party, as some colleagues worry the Pennsylvania senator could one day consider becoming an independent.
Speculation grew last week after Fetterman identified the circumstance he said would force him to take that possibility seriously: Democrats officially embracing what he views as an anti-Israel stance.
‘I would have to seriously consider that,’ Fetterman told NOTUS, citing what he described as a sharp shift within the Democratic Party.
Fetterman said he believes Democratic primaries are increasingly elevating candidates whose positions go beyond support for Palestinians and cross into outright hostility toward Israel.
‘Look at the kinds of people that are winning our primaries. Not just, ‘I’m pro-Palestinian,’ but, ‘I’m intensely anti-Israel.’ That’s a significant difference,’ he said.
His remarks come amid a widening Democratic divide over Israel’s war in Gaza.
An increasing number of Democratic lawmakers have urged the U.S. to suspend or place conditions on military aid to Israel, recognize a Palestinian state, sanction Israeli officials, and accuse Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of war crimes or genocide in Gaza.
Recent primary results have underscored that shift, with several progressive candidates running on strongly pro-Palestinian platforms defeating more traditional pro-Israel Democrats and revealing changes in the party’s grassroots base.
One Democratic senator, speaking anonymously to NOTUS, admitted they were worried Fetterman could ultimately leave the party.
‘I am concerned,’ the senator said.
Senator John Fetterman agrues Democratic primaries are increasingly rewarding candidates who are openly hostile toward Israel.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune welcomed the idea of Fetterman joining the Republican party on July 21
Fetterman and Senator Dave McCormick formed a joint fundraising committee that lets both senators raise money together, while keeping their campaigns legally separate
Republicans, meanwhile, have made clear they would gladly welcome him.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said politicians like Fetterman, who hold moderate Democratic views, are increasingly finding themselves without a political home.
‘There are many of us who I think would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference. But you know ultimately that’s a decision that’s left up to him,’ Thune said at a Senate Republican leadership press briefing on Tuesday.
Thune, Fetterman and Senator Deb Fischer introduced the bipartisan Broadband MAP Act of 2026 on Monday.
The bill directs the FCC to improve how it handles disputes over its broadband map. If a provider believes the map incorrectly shows whether an address can receive broadband service, the FCC would be required to review and strengthen the process for correcting those errors.
The speculation further continued after Fetterman formed a joint fundraising committee, ‘Common Ground PA,’ with Republican Senator Dave McCormick—an extraordinarily rare move between senators from opposing parties.
Even veteran Democrats admitted they had never seen anything like it.
‘I’ve never seen it before. Yes, I’m struck by it,’ Senator Chris Van Hollen told NOTUS.
Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Deluzio went even further, calling the arrangement ‘crazy stuff’ and accusing Fetterman of helping Republicans raise money to defeat Democrats in key battleground races.
Fetterman dismissed the criticism to the outlet, insisting there was ‘nothing sinister’ about partnering with McCormick and arguing the pair simply work together on issues affecting Pennsylvania.
Fetterman has increasingly found himself isolated within his own party. Although he still votes with Democrats the vast majority of the time, his unwavering support for Israel, tougher border security, willingness to work with Republicans and recent defense of the Senate filibuster have angered many progressives.
Last month, Fetterman even admitted Democrats were wrong to push for eliminating the filibuster during his 2022 Senate campaign, praising former Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for protecting it.
His political standing is now taking the hit.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found his approval rating among Pennsylvania Democrats had dropped to just 19 percent, while 52 percent of voters surveyed said they would support him leaving the Democratic Party.
Fetterman has argued the backlash is directly tied to his support for Israel.
‘If I’m becoming more unpopular with Democrats, that’s a strong correlation of being a proud Israel supporter,’ he told CNN.
His former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, even suggested to NOTUS that Fetterman could eventually leave the party if it helped him remain politically relevant, particularly if Democrats held only a one-seat Senate majority.
Still, despite the mounting speculation, Fetterman has not announced any plans to become an independent or Republican.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Fetterman’s team for comment.
