# Democratic senator Fetterman endorses Republican McCormick at GOP convention

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trump-pledges-5000-dividend-at-dallas-gop-convention-as-democratic-senator-fetterman-endorses-republican-rival/
- Published: 2026-09-10T05:08:30+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-10T11:15:35+00:00
- Topics: Art, Culture, Elections, Geopolitics, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Fetterman, a Democrat, endorsed Republican rival Dave McCormick's Senate bid.
- He praised Trump and criticised Democratic "extremes and socialism."
- Move highlights Fetterman's growing rift with Democratic leadership.

## Summary

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania delivered a surprise video message at the Republican Party's inaugural midterm convention, praising President Donald Trump and endorsing Republican Senator Dave McCormick's re-election bid while rejecting what he called the Democratic Party's "extremes and socialism." Speaking in front of a steel mill, Fetterman said he was proud to work with McCormick and Trump to defend Pennsylvania's steel industry, calling McCormick "a different party" but "my great friend." The appearance, unusual for a sitting Democratic senator at a rival party's event, underlined Fetterman's deepening estrangement from Democratic leadership and the party's left wing.

Fetterman and McCormick previously contested the 2022 Senate race, which Fetterman won, but have since built an unusually close bipartisan relationship, including forming a joint fundraising committee in July. Fetterman has repeatedly broken with his party over Israel, immigration and Trump's military action against Iran, remaining one of the Senate's most outspoken Democratic defenders of Israel, and has said he would consider quitting the party if it became "anti-Israel," though he has given no indication he intends to switch sides. His endorsement gave Republicans a high-profile Democratic voice to showcase as evidence of a broadening coalition ahead of the November midterms.

## Coverage

- [Daily Mail: Trump gets hero’s welcome by rowdy MAGA partiers as he kicks off first-ever GOP midterm convention… with several glaring absences](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16118547/Trump-gets-heros-welcome-rowdy-MAGA-partiers-kicks-GOP-midterm-convention-glaring-absences.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: Sign fail at Republican midterm convention as speakers’ podium suffers unfortunate mishap](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16118861/Sign-fail-Republican-midterm-convention-podium-mishap.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Fox News: Fetterman teases where his true loyalty lies after surprise appearance at GOP convention](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fetterman-teases-true-loyalty-surprise-appearance-gop-convention)
- [Fox News: Dem senator delivers surprise video at Republican convention backing McCormick](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democratic-sen-fetterman-delivers-surprise-video-republican-convention-backing-mccormick)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.