After months of speculation about whether or not U.S. Sen. John Fetterman would leave the Democratic party, the senator from Pennsylvania called himself a "lifelong Republican" in a flub at a Texas conference.
The comment happened during a conversation with CBS News political correspondent Major Garrett at the Texas Tribune Festival when Fetterman was asked why he hadn't become an independent.
It came after months of scrutiny as he's repeatedly broken from Democrats to support the U.S. war in Iran, flipped on his campaign promise to end the filibuster, supported President Donald Trump's nominees for top U.S. positions and vowed to work with Trump in a video message at a Republican convention.
Why did Fetterman call himself a lifelong Republican?
Fetterman's slip-up happened on Sept. 26 during a chat
with Garrett at the Texas Tribune Festival when he was asked why he had not become an independent.
"Because I’m a lifelong Republican," Fetterman said.
The comment was quickly corrected, with Garrett adding, "Democrat," while Fetterman raised a hand and shook his head, laughing.
"I guarantee you, that's gonna break through, that'll ... get clipped," Fetterman said.
He went on to answer the question by saying he's a "lifelong Democrat, and that's the point." He also questioned why figures like former U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner from Maine and U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan didn't face similar scrutiny about their place in the party.
"They're communists, and they wipe their mouth with the American flag and say that America is the problem," Fetterman said. "That's not controversial as a Democrat, but having a very narrow view in standing with Israel or don't shut our government down ... it's weird right now."
Garrett clarified that El-Sayed is not a communist.
Is Fetterman switching parties?
Fetterman has repeatedly denied that he will become a Republican or an independent.
Most recently, he shouted at a reporter over this issue in a Sept. 15 video published by CSPAN on X, saying, "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."
What is Fetterman's approval rating?
Democrats' support for Fetterman has dropped since he was elected in 2022. A July Quinnipiac poll showed he was down 69%–19% among his own party and 48%–44% among independents. Across the board, 52% of voters wanted him to leave the Democratic party, while 31% said he should stay.
On the flip side, Republican voters like Fetterman — more than they like McCormick, according to one poll.
The same Quinnipiac poll showed that Fetterman was up 77%–12% with Republicans. Additionally, an August poll, conducted by The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena University, showed that Fetterman had a higher approval rating than McCormick. While 79% of self-identified Republicans had a positive view of Fetterman favorably, 62% viewed McCormick favorably.
When is Fetterman up for reelection?
Fetterman can't run for office again until 2028. As of Sept. 29, he had yet to announce official plans to run for reelection.
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: See US Sen. John Fetterman accidentally say he's a 'lifelong Republican'
