Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said Saturday that it is “entirely possible” Democrats could win back the Senate, but he stopped short of promising in advance that he would act as the party’s dependable deciding 51st vote. Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Fetterman said, “Let’s revisit after the midterm,” when asked about his plans if Democrats regain control.
The comments matter well beyond Washington because Pennsylvania is one of only two states with one Democratic senator and one Republican senator. Fetterman has become a flashpoint inside his own party after a string of high-profile breaks with Democrats, even as he says he remains a lifelong Democrat and has “no path as a Republican.”
Fetterman revives questions about his role in a narrow Senate majority
Fetterman made the remarks on September 26 during a closing keynote interview at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, according to the Texas Tribune and CBS News. He said Democrats taking the Senate is “entirely possible,” then added, “Wait till the midterms. See what I do,” and, “Let’s revisit after the midterm and see what happens if I happen to be 51.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat’s latest comments came after a more definitive statement earlier this month. After backlash over a video appearance at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Fetterman said he would not switch parties and declared, “I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party — and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on.”
That shift in tone has drawn fresh attention because Senate control is tight. CBS News reported Republicans currently hold 53 seats. The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Democrats need to pick up four Republican-held seats in November to regain the majority, and noted that even if Fetterman remains a Democrat, he could wield unusual leverage in a narrow 51-49 split.
For Pennsylvania, the clearest fact is that Fetterman is still the state’s Democratic senator and says he is not becoming a Republican. At the Texas Tribune event, he said, “I don’t have a reason to” join the GOP and argued that Republican politics do not match his support for abortion rights and gay rights. Voteview, a congressional tracking database, still lists Fetterman as a Democrat from Pennsylvania serving in the Senate.
Pennsylvania’s split delegation adds to the local stakes. CBS News noted the state is one of only two in the country represented by one Democrat and one Republican in the Senate. Fetterman introduced Pennsylvania’s Republican senator, Dave McCormick, in a surprise video shown at the GOP midterm convention earlier this month, a move that intensified party-switch speculation.
What remains unknown is what Fetterman would actually do if Democrats win a bare majority and he becomes the vote they need most. He did not say he would leave the party. He also did not give an advance commitment when asked directly about the possibility. He similarly said he is waiting until after the midterms to decide whether to seek reelection in 2028, though he said he is fundraising with that possibility in mind.
The uncertainty around Fetterman’s comments is rooted in a record of recent breaks with his party. The Texas Tribune reported that on Thursday he cast the deciding vote against curbing President Donald Trump’s use of force in Iran. The outlet also reported that since 2025, Fetterman has been Democrats’ least reliable vote in the Senate, a pattern that has fueled speculation about his future.
The Washington Post reported that Fetterman has voted with Republicans on ending last year’s shutdown, has supported several Trump nominees and has opposed efforts to end the war in Iran. At the same time, he has continued to argue that he is still a Democrat because of his support for labor unions, LGBTQ rights and abortion rights.
What comes next is more waiting than resolution. Fetterman told CBS News, “How many times do I have to say it?” before repeating that observers should wait until after the midterm elections and “see what I do.” For now, the firm facts are these: he says he is not a Republican, he says Democrats winning the Senate is possible, and he is not locking himself into the role some in his party want him to promise.