WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman was pressed Wednesday about why he still identifies as a Democrat despite his independent streak — as party brass in Pennsylvania quietly plot his downfall.
During a NewsNation town hall event, pundit Bill O’Reilly confronted Fetterman (D-Pa.) over his party affiliation after the hulking senator crowed about being one of two Democrats who have consistently backed a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open.
“Why are you a Democrat, though? I don’t say that to be a wise guy,” asked O’Reilly, citing Fetterman’s ardent support of Israel and opposition to “wild” spending.
“I really believe in calling balls and strikes, and I want to follow the truth,” Fetterman insisted.
O’Reilly noted that Fetterman could become an Independent, but the senator dismissed that as a nonviable option.
“Those are some independent thoughts, but overall, I mean, you have to pick one side – Republican, Democrat – that’s always been my party,” the shorts and sweats-wearing pol explained, having previously described his support for the Jewish state as an “isolating” experience.
Former Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (I-WV), ditched the Democrats during their later years in the upper chamber after numerous clashes with the progressive base.
Following Fetterman’s appearance, Axios reported that a handful of top Pennsylvania Democrats are maneuvering to potentially mount a primary campaign against Fetterman when he comes up for re-election in 2028.
Former Rep. Conor Lamb, who unsuccessfully sought the Senate seat won by Fetterman in 2022, is widely seen as the obvious choice to wage a primary challenge.
“Parts of my base are really angry with me, which is really strange,” Fetterman acknowledged. “I mean, run the numbers. I mean, I vote, I think 90%-plus Democrat … but my base, [they’re] very angry about me being fully, fully, unapologetically supportive of Israel.”
Fetterman, 56, ran on progressive bona fides during the 2022 midterm election cycle, becoming the only candidate from either party to flip a Senate seat.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that a majority of Democratic voters disapprove of his performance in office, but Fetterman remains popular overall — including receiving high marks from GOP voters.
“I’m the only Democrat in my family. I grew up in a conservative part of Pennsylvania and I grew up and I know and I love people that voted for President Trump,” Fetterman told O’Reilly Wednesday night.
“They are not fascists, they are not Nazis, they are not trying to destroy the Constitution, those things, and that’s part of another thing,” he continued. “I refuse to call people, you know, Nazis or fascists.”
