Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has never been one to play by the party rulebook, and his independent streak is now causing ripples within the Democratic Party—both in Washington and back home. Over the past week, Fetterman has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic colleagues for his role in the ongoing government shutdown and his willingness to cross party lines on some of the nation’s thorniest issues, including immigration and the conflict in the Middle East. As speculation swirls about his political future, several prominent Democrats are already lining up for a possible primary challenge in 2028, setting the stage for a dramatic intra-party showdown.
At a live town hall at the Kennedy Center on October 15, 2025, Fetterman didn’t mince words. "I follow country, then party," he declared, according to NewsNation. He was responding to frustration from constituents over the government shutdown and the war between Israel and Hamas, which had only recently paused under a fragile ceasefire. "I would love to have a conversation on health care [subsidies]," Fetterman added. "But [the shutdown] is wrong for the country … . I can’t vote for shutting the government down."
Fetterman’s stance wasn’t just rhetoric—he was one of only three Senate Democrats to vote for a Republican-backed proposal to keep the government funded through November 21, 2025. The other two were Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. This move, while praised by some for its bipartisanship, left others in the party fuming.
"The shutdown has been very isolating," Fetterman admitted during an appearance on Fox News’s "Sunday Morning Futures." He even likened the criticism he’s faced over the shutdown to the backlash he’s endured for his outspoken support for Israel—a stance that has increasingly set him apart from the Democratic mainstream.
According to The Hill, Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that Republicans would introduce a Pentagon spending bill, aiming to jumpstart the stalled appropriations process. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, said Democrats were holding out to see what Republicans might add to the bill before deciding how to vote. The gridlock has only deepened frustrations in both parties, but for Fetterman, the bigger issue is principle. "In a period of chaos, I refuse to vote to shut our government down," he said at the town hall. "Now, let’s have a conversation to extend it and not shut our government down."
Fetterman’s willingness to break with his party doesn’t end with budget battles. According to Axios and multiple Pennsylvania political insiders, his record on immigration, foreign policy, and even the internal culture of the Democratic Party has left some colleagues and activists searching for alternatives. Reps. Brendan Boyle and Chris Deluzio, along with former Rep. Conor Lamb, are reportedly considering Senate bids in 2028, as divisions within the party widen.
Boyle has been especially vocal, accusing Fetterman of becoming "Trump’s favorite Democrat" and even claiming he "went to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring." Fetterman, never one to shy away from a fight, shot back by sharing data showing he had voted with Trump just six percent of the time—compared to Boyle’s nearly 14 percent. "ACTUAL NUMBERS, less clicks," Fetterman quipped in a text to Axios, dismissing the controversy as media clickbait. When pressed further, he replied, "Please do not contact."
But the policy differences are real and growing. Fetterman has condemned what he sees as a romanticization of socialism within the Democratic Party, telling reporters that those who embrace such ideologies are "morons." In June, he went so far as to say the party had "sided with the Hamas regime" and "lost that argument," insisting that Hamas "doesn’t have the kind of values and live the kind of ways that we want here in our country." He has also congratulated former President Trump for brokering what he called a "historic peace plan" between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing their shared "ironclad commitment to Israel."
On immigration, Fetterman was the first Democratic senator to co-sponsor the Republican-led Laken Riley Act, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants charged with certain crimes. "No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence," he said, underscoring his support for tougher enforcement. He has also rejected calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), describing the agency’s work as "important" and labeling abolition efforts "inappropriate and outrageous."
Fetterman’s tone toward intra-party critics has grown sharper as well. He recently circulated a study showing that left-wing terrorism had reached a "30-year high" and warned that "unchecked extreme rhetoric, like labels as Hitler or fascist, will foment more extreme outcomes." He stressed, "Political violence is always wrong—no exceptions." In a September interview with CNN, he urged fellow Democrats to "stop saying Trump is acting like an autocrat," arguing, "A lot of Americans happen to disagree with you. That does not mean they are fascists."
Despite the backlash, Fetterman’s approach has won him some unlikely admirers. After a meeting at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, Trump described Fetterman as "a commonsense person." Fetterman, for his part, insisted, "No one is my gatekeeper" and said it was entirely appropriate to meet with the former president.
Back in Pennsylvania, the political ground is shifting. While polls show Fetterman retaining strong overall approval among the state’s voters, a Quinnipiac survey found that a majority of Democratic voters now disapprove of his job performance. Rep. Boyle, who had "been quiet" about his concerns for a long time, said he felt compelled to speak out once Fetterman’s comments began to affect "how congressional Democrats were being perceived." Deluzio, meanwhile, has not ruled out a Senate bid, with a close associate suggesting he would take a "good look" at a run if Fetterman decides not to seek reelection.
For now, Fetterman remains undeterred. He continues to emphasize his core philosophy: "I follow country, then party." At the recent town hall, he reminded attendees that Democrats "designed" healthcare tax credits to expire at the end of the year, clarifying, "that issue was not something taken from anybody by the Republicans." His message was clear: "Let’s have a conversation to extend it and not shut our government down."
As the 2028 Senate race looms, the coming months will test whether Fetterman’s brand of independent politics can withstand the mounting pressure from his own party—or whether the Democratic base will rally behind a challenger promising a return to orthodoxy. One thing’s for sure: Pennsylvania’s political landscape is anything but predictable these days.
