Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D) made an unusual appearance at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, delivering a prerecorded video message praising fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick (R) and pledging to work with President Donald Trump on the steel industry.
Fetterman appeared on screen as McCormick prepared to take the stage, calling the Republican senator a “great American” and a close friend despite their party differences.
“I have this opportunity to introduce this great American, a great senator, and yes, he’s in a different party,” Fetterman said. “But I’m proud to count him as my great friend.”
Fetterman described himself during the roughly one-minute video as a “common-sense Democrat” and said he would reject political extremes and socialism. His remarks were independently reported by Reuters, AP and other outlets covering the Dallas convention.
The Democrat also pointed to the US Steel facility visible behind him and said McCormick would work with Trump to defend Pennsylvania’s steel industry.
The appearance was notable because the convention was organized specifically to help Republicans maintain control of Congress in the November midterm elections.
Fetterman did not tell attendees to vote Republican or announce a party switch. Instead, his message focused primarily on his friendship and working relationship with McCormick and cooperation with Trump on steel.
The appearance nevertheless generated immediate criticism from some Democrats.
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), whose district is among those targeted by Republicans this year, criticized Fetterman for appearing remotely rather than traveling to Dallas.
Other Democratic activists pointed to the appearance as further evidence of Fetterman’s growing distance from parts of his party.
Speculation that Fetterman could eventually change parties has followed him as he has broken with Democrats on several major issues, particularly Israel, Iran and immigration.
Fetterman moved quickly after Wednesday’s speech to reject that speculation.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party — and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on,” he said in a statement to The Washington Sun.
AP similarly reported that Fetterman reiterated his intention to remain a Democrat despite his increasingly public disagreements with members of his own party.
Fetterman has rejected party-switch speculation before.
In July, however, he said one development could cause him to leave the Democratic Party: a formal shift toward what he considers an anti-Israel position.
That same month, Fetterman confirmed that Republicans had approached him about changing parties but declined to reveal details, describing the discussions as private.
Fetterman and McCormick have also taken steps to formalize their bipartisan relationship.
The two Pennsylvania senators established a joint political committee called Common Ground PA earlier this year, designed to attract donors interested in supporting both lawmakers, per the Daily Mail.
Despite those moves, Fetterman told Politico in May that he was not becoming a Republican or an independent.
“I’m a Democrat, and I’m staying one,” Fetterman said at the time.
His Dallas appearance now adds another unusual chapter to that relationship with Republicans, with Fetterman simultaneously praising McCormick and Trump while insisting his Democratic affiliation remains unchanged.
