Senate Majority Leader Says Republicans Would Welcome Fetterman in Caucus

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday that Republicans would welcome Sen. John Fetterman into their caucus if the Pennsylvania senator chose to leave the Democratic Party. “We would welcome him,” Thune said when asked about discussions with Fetterman.

“I haven’t talked to him recently. I have had conversations with him in the past, as have many of my colleagues, about the challenges he faces in his caucus. There are many of us who I think would welcome the opportunity to have him in the Republican conference.

He formed a joint fundraising committee with his Republican colleague from Pennsylvania, Sen. Dave McCormick, called Common Ground PA. Until recently, Fetterman had stated he would not leave the Democratic Party. In May, he wrote an opinion piece stating he would make a “terrible” Republican.

Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin urged Fetterman to become an independent, saying it would be “liberating.” Last week, Fetterman said his future may not remain with the Democratic Party if it becomes “the anti-Israel party.”