With Democrats winning control of the U.S. Senate, flipping seats blue in traditionally red states like Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, where does that leave U.S. Sen. John Fetterman after Election Day 2026?
Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania elected in 2022, regularly breaks with his party — often enough that it's caused widespread speculation about whether or not he'll become a Republican or an independent.
In recent months, he's been the deciding voice on multiple occasions in the Senate, repeatedly blocking war powers resolutions meant to stop President Donald Trump from attacking Iran without congressional oversight.
Now that Democrats have control of the Senate, with a total of 54 seats compared to the Republicans' 44 seats, with races
in Alaska and Mississippi yet to be called, here's how Fetterman's influence could change.
With Democrats flipping the Senate, how much power does Fetterman's vote have?
Because Fetterman often breaks from Democrats to vote with Republicans, there was speculation ahead of the election that even if Democrats flipped the Senate, the party may still struggle to get measures passed because of him.
But because Democrats won seats across the country and now have a strong majority in the Senate, Fetterman's vote alone won't be enough to be the deciding factor on Democrat-led measures.
What happens if Fetterman changes parties?
Fetterman could change parties if he wanted and join more than 20 other senators who have done the same, including Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona, and Joe Manchin, I-West Virginia, two former senators who left the Democratic Party to become independents in the early 2020s during their time in office.
Ultimately, the Democrats will still control the Senate regardless of whether or not Fetterman leaves the party.
Is John Fetterman changing parties?
As of Nov. 4, Fetterman has not said that he will change parties — in fact, he's denied that he will do so, though that hasn't stopped speculation about his loyalty to Democrats, as well as encouragement from Trump for him to become a Republican.
"It's gonna be hard for him to get the nomination as a Democrat, but I’d love to have him as a Republican," Trump said to reporters at Joint Base Adrews on Oct. 10. "If you look at the polls, he does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat."
In September, Fetterman shouted at reporters over the topic. In a video published by CSPAN on X, Fetterman raised his voice, telling reporters, "I'm not going to be a Republican. You know, why can't you guys just wait 'til the midterm? And if I turn a Republican, then I'll be a liar, then."
Fetterman voting record, stances
Time and time again, Fetterman has repeatedly broken from the Democratic Party to vote with Republicans.
Fetterman has voted numerous times since the start of the year to stop Congress from limiting Trump's ability to attack Iran without oversight, sometimes casting the deciding vote. He's cleared the way for Trump nominees to take high-level positions, voting to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general, Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin as Noem's replacement and more.
A staunch supporter of Israel, Fetterman has said that if Democrats stop showing support for Israel, he will leave the party.
"If they put that in our platform — no aid for Israel — and officially become the anti-Israel party, then yeah, that’s a red line for me," Fetterman told NBC News. "Democrats, we always should support Israel. That’s our special ally, you know? In the only democracy in the entire region, that’s Israel. So I’m always proud to stand with Israel."
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats flipped US Senate. Will John Fetterman upset their control?
