‘Another betrayal’: Fetterman’s GOP fundraising boost stokes fresh fury from Democrats

Sen. John Fetterman‘s (D-PA) bid to boost his beleaguered fundraising figures by raising donations with his home state Republican colleague is the latest thorn in the side of Democrats and another example of the centrist’s cozy relationship with a GOP that’s courting him to switch parties.

Sen. Dave McCormick‘s (R-PA) campaign, which recently launched a rare cross-party joint fundraising venture with Fetterman’s campaign, says it’s a chance for donors who “value the collaboration” between the senators “and want to support both of them.” Democrats aren’t buying it.

“Fetterman has already made his decision to switch parties, and they are going to wait for the most painful or embarrassing moment for Fetterman to do it,” opined Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and former senior adviser to former Vice President Kamala Harris. “He might even stay a registered Democrat just to continue to f*** with us like that.”

For his part, Fetterman, who is up for reelection in 2028, has repeatedly denied any intent to leave the party amid questions if he could win a primary. He told the Washington Examiner last month he would not campaign for centrist Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) despite his sharp criticism of Democrat Graham Platner. The disgraced Maine Senate candidate, accused of sexual assaults that he denies, has since stated his intent to withdraw from the race.

“I am a Democrat. We’ve got great, we have great candidates,” said Fetterman, citing Texas’s James Talarico, Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff. “But I will be the one Democrat to never defend and pretend that [Platner] isn’t an absolute mess and a disgrace as a candidate.”

Still, frustrated Democrats on and off Capitol Hill point to Fetterman’s transition as a candidate once backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to one of the most willing members of his caucus to cross the aisle. He regularly beefs with Democrats over contentious issues like immigration and Israel, and he often goes on conservative media programs to air grievances. Fetterman voted in line with President Donald Trump last year 28% of the time, the most of any Senate Democrat, according to a VoteHub analysis. But as a Republican, Fetterman would be far from Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) 88% record, the lowest among GOP senators.

“Another betrayal from Fetterman,” former Rep. Conor Lamb, a Pennsylvania Democrat who’s positioned himself for a potential 2028 Senate run, posted on social media. “But look on the bright side, we’ll get Republicans to burn their money before Pennsylvania fires him.”

The joint fundraising committee between the senators, Common Ground PA, allows their campaigns and political action committees, Fetterman’s is Every Vote PAC and McCormick’s is Pennsylvania Honor, to essentially share contributions. It could provide a much-needed jolt to Fetterman’s campaign coffers, which have suffered in recent years over his centrist shift, according to federal finance records. Fetterman and McCormick enjoy a close working relationship, and their families are friends. McCormick and other Republicans have become strong defenders of Fetterman against Democratic criticism.

In the two years before Fetterman won his battleground seat and took office in early 2023, he raised an eye-popping $76 million. From 2023 through 2024, his first two years in office, he took in $7.4 million. Since 2025, despite his reelection fight drawing closer, he’s raised less than $2 million and had roughly the same cash on hand as of the end of March. Since 2023, Fetterman’s PAC has brought in just $424,000 and had $178,000 in the bank as of the end of May.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., right, greet before participating in a debate moderated by Fox News anchor Shannon Bream, not shown, Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Monday, June 2, 2025, in Boston, as livestreamed on Fox Nation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

" data-large-file="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg?w=696" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg?w=696" alt="Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., right, greet before participating in a debate moderated by Fox News anchor Shannon Bream, not shown, Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Monday, June 2, 2025, in Boston, as livestreamed on Fox Nation" class="wp-image-4644214" srcset="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg 1024w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP25153531616523.jpg?resize=696,464 696w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), left, and Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), right, greet before participating in a debate moderated by Fox News anchor Shannon Bream, not shown, Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Monday, June 2, 2025, in Boston, as livestreamed on Fox Nation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Fetterman has not stated whether he’ll seek a second term.

J.J. Abbott, a former press secretary for former Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, urged past Fetterman donors to request a refund. Under most circumstances, refunds are at the discretion of campaigns and are not uncommon.

“Find an old Fetterman email in your inbox and slam that unsubscribe button,” Abbott posted, along with a link. “Use this page to request a refund of your previous contributions to Fetterman.”

FETTERMAN AND MCCORMICK LAUNCH JOINT FUNDRAISER AS DEMOCRAT’S SUPPORT WANES IN HIS PARTY

McCormick, elected in 2024, is not up for reelection until 2030. Since the start of 2025, he’s raised $4.4 million, and his PAC has brought in $1.1 million.

The Fetterman campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the joint fundraising venture or Democratic criticism.