Democratic Sen. Fetterman mistakenly dubs himself a ‘lifelong Republican’

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times - Monday, September 28, 2026

Sen. John Fetterman reignited rumors of a party switch after a Freudian slip led him to mistakenly describe himself as a “lifelong Republican.”

At the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday, the Pennsylvania Democrat was asked why he would not become an independent — a nod to his pervasive straying from his party — to which he responded: “Because I’m a lifelong Republican.”

CBS News correspondent Major Garrett jumped in, correcting his party alignment for the lawmaker.

People were interested in these podcasts

After Mr. Fetterman corrected his slip-up, he defended his more moderate, and sometimes right-leaning views, pointing to those at the far left of the liberal spectrum.

He compared himself to onetime Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner of Maine and Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, both of whom represent some of the most left-leaning factions of the Democratic Party with “extreme views.”

“They wipe their mouth with the American flag and say that America is the problem. That’s not controversial as a Democrat,” he said.

Instead, Mr. Fetterman’s consistent support for Israel and voting with Republicans last year to prevent a government shutdown has alienated him from his colleagues, he said.

“It’s a weird place right now,” Mr. Fetterman said.

To be an independent, he questioned, “is the problem with me, or is it the Democratic Party?”

“If I’m more popular than actual Republicans, why would you dislodge a committed Democrat? That’s a lock on a D seat,” he said, aligning himself with his party’s goal to take back a congressional majority after the November midterms.

After Nov. 3, however, could determine Mr. Fetterman’s political future alignment.

“People will ask, ’Are you gonna be a Republican?’ I’m like, ’Let’s see how the midterm goes,’” he said.

Earlier in September, he recorded a video praising his Republican Pennsylvania colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick, which was shown at a Republican National Committee midterm convention in Dallas.