DALLAS — Democratic Sen. John Fetterman made a surprise appearance at the Republican midterm convention Wednesday night.
The independent-minded senator praised his fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick in a video that aired at the Dallas arena, saying that while the two are in different parties, he’s proud to “work together” and “will work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life.”
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“Yes, I’m Senator John Fetterman, Pennsylvania. Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I’m a common sense Democrat. I’m always going to stand with America,” Fetterman said in a video showing himself on the roof of a building overlooking a steel mill.
“I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life,” he added. “Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania. I’m proud to count him as my friend.”
Fetterman also said he “will work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley. I have this opportunity to introduce this great American, a great senator, and yes, he is in a different party, but I’m proud to count him as my great friend.”
McCormick said after taking the stage, “How great is John Fetterman?” The video appearance was first reported by Axios.
The Pennslyvania Democrat is not the first to speak on behalf of a lawmaker at an opposing party’s convention.
The late Sen. Joe Lieberman, who was a registered independent though caucused with Democrats, spoke on behalf of then-presidential nominee John McCain at the 2008 Republican National Convention.
In addition, in 2008, late Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who caucused with the Democrats, spoke at the Republican convention on behalf of late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who was the G
Notably, a New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena University survey published in August showed that 73% of registered GOP voters have a favorable view of Fetterman, whereas 63% have that view of McCormick.
A majority (63%) of Democrats have an unfavorable opinion of Fetterman, even though he votes roughly 80% of the time with his party. Just 22% of registered Democrats view him favorably.
Fetterman has bucked his party on key votes in the past year to keep the government funded and has suggested he will leave the Democratic Party if it becomes “officially” anti-Israel.
He’s also ruled out campaigning against McCormick in the future, calling the Republican “my friend.”
In July, the Pennsylvania senators launched a joint fundraising committee, Common Ground PA, that will spend on the 2026 and 2028 cycles.
At the same time, Fetterman has stressed that his political stances haven’t changed since he was elected to the US Senate as a progressive Democrat in November 2022.
“My values have not changed, and I have always turned to those kinds of ideals that defined being a Democrat,” he wrote in a Washington Post op-ed in May. “I remain strongly pro-choice, pro-weed, pro-LGBT, pro-SNAP, pro-labor and even pro-rib-eye over bio slop.”
“I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats,” Fetterman also said, adding that many of his party’s “once-common views have become increasingly toxic … a result of catering to the fringe and agitated parts of our base.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said that the Republican conference would “welcome” the Pennsylvania Democrat if Fetterman chose to switch parties.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has prodded Fetterman to keep his party affiliation for the remainder of his term.
“I know that Pennsylvanians voted for a Democrat to represent them in the United States Senate,” Shapiro has said.
“I think he needs to honor that and continue with his service to Pennsylvania, and, hopefully, get back to what he was elected to do and reflect the will of the people.”
Rep. Chris DeLuzio (D-Pa.) recently suggested that he may challenge Fetterman in a 2028 Democratic primary, telling KDKA-TV in a recent interview that he’s “gotten a lot of encouragement” to do so.
