Fetterman Describes Challenges of Breaking With Democratic Caucus on Key Votes

Sen. John Fetterman has described his experience as a moderate Democrat in Congress who is willing to break ranks with the party on some votes. The Pennsylvania senator told "Real Time With Bill Maher" on Friday that the process has left him feeling lonely at times.

Fetterman said Democrats have moved away from previous positions on government shutdowns and border security. "I've, you know, had to vote against the caucus," he said. "I don't enjoy that, but we used to be a party that would always refuse to shut the government down.

The piece followed a Politico report about Republican efforts to recruit him in order to strengthen their Senate majority. In the interview Fetterman reiterated his commitment to the party. "I'm a committed Democrat," he said. "I thought we were supposed to be a big-tent party.

" Fetterman also said the party has adopted an "anti-men" sentiment that contributed to losses among young male voters. "Part of the Democratic Party became more and more anti-men, or describing that they were part of the problem, or they have toxic traits and for those things, and that's why there's been such a migration away from the Democratic Party, from young men," the senator said.

The senator has backed a Republican nomination for secretary of homeland security and opposed War Powers Act resolutions aimed at restricting the president's ability to attack Iran. An analysis from GovTrack found that ideologically he remains to the left of about a third of the Senate Democratic caucus.

Fetterman ran for Senate in 2022 and was the last Democrat to flip a seat from Republicans. In his op-ed he wrote that his values have not changed. "I remain strongly pro-choice, pro-weed, pro-LGBT, pro-SNAP, pro-labor and even pro-rib-eye over bio slop," he stated.