Sen. John Fetterman said he will not campaign against Sen. Dave McCormick in 2030 if the Pennsylvania Republican chooses to run for a second term, calling his political rival a friend and pledging to stay neutral in the race.
In remarks to the Washington Examiner, Fetterman was asked whether he would support or oppose McCormick’s potential 2030 bid. “Well, I would absolutely never move against my friend,” Fetterman said, referring to McCormick as a “great guy.”
The pledge marks one of the clearest public signals yet of the unusually close political alliance the two Pennsylvania senators have built since McCormick took office in January 2025 after defeating Democratic incumbent Bob Casey in a narrow race. Fetterman, a Democrat, is up for reelection in 2028, while McCormick will face voters again in 2030.
The two senators have demonstrated their partnership through concrete actions beyond the pledge. In July 2026, they launched a joint fundraising committee called Common Ground PA, an unusual move for senators from opposite parties. According to a spokesperson, the PAC accepts donations from those who value the collaboration the two senators have exhibited for Pennsylvania.
McCormick has publicly praised Fetterman’s willingness to break from his party on key issues. In an August appearance on “The Cats Roundtable,” McCormick said Fetterman was “willing to stand up and call out the craziness that’s happening in his party,” citing Fetterman’s opposition to progressive candidates who are critical of Israel. “It’s made him unpopular with some of the people in his party,” McCormick said, adding that he was “lucky to have a good partner in Pennsylvania.”
Fetterman has been consistent in his opposition to what he views as radical positions within the Democratic Party. At the Hill Nation Summit, he said he had “no plans” to leave the Democratic Party but warned that he would reconsider if the party officially became anti-Israel. “If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me,” he said.
The relationship between Fetterman and McCormick represents a rare moment of cross-party cooperation in a deeply divided Congress. Pennsylvania is one of only three states with split Senate representation, and the two have used their platform to demonstrate that legislators from opposing parties can work together. They have done media appearances together and co-sponsored legislation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in late July that Republicans would “welcome” Fetterman into the party if he decides to leave the Democratic Party, though Fetterman has not indicated he plans to do so. His pledge not to campaign against McCormick, however, suggests he views the relationship as more important than party loyalty in this particular case.
Sources
- Washington Examiner — Fetterman’s exclusive statement that he would not campaign against McCormick in 2030, calling him a friend and great guy
- The Hill — Fetterman’s pledge not to campaign against McCormick, details of their joint fundraising effort and media appearances, McCormick’s praise for Fetterman’s stance on party issues, and Fetterman’s statement about leaving the party if it becomes anti-Israel
- CBS News Pittsburgh — Joint fundraising committee formation in July 2026 and timing of Fetterman and McCormick’s election cycles
