ReportWhy Fetterman's GOP Video May Cost Him His Seat in 2028Aired September 12, 2026 at 5:54 PM UTCWritten September 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:11A Democratic senator praised a Republican colleague to the GOP's own convention.0:15It was the opening night of the GOP's midterm convention in Dallas, and his own0:19party is furious.0:20The video is fueling talk of a 2028 primary challenge.0:24Why would a senator who votes with his party 90% of the time use his party's biggest0:28stage to praise the other side?0:29On September 9th, the convention played a pre-recorded one-minute video from Senator0:34John Fetterman.0:35Standing in a gray hoodie in front of a U.S.0:37steel mill in Braddock, in the Mon Valley, he introduced his Pennsylvania colleague,0:41Republican Senator Dave McCormick.0:44Those are the words that aired on the GOP's opening night, and they landed like a0:47grenade inside his own party.0:49The convention crowd received them warmly.0:51The reason it lands so hard is the record.0:53He votes with Democrats 90% of the time.0:57After the clip, Fetterman insisted he is not switching parties.1:01He said he is a lifelong Democrat, that he and McCormick have delivered hundreds of1:05millions of dollars back to Pennsylvania, and that should the Senate flip in1:08November, he would still be the 51st vote he ran on.1:11McCormick helped arrange the appearance.1:13The two share a joint pact called Common Ground PA.1:15The White House rapid response account posted the clip almost immediately, and the1:19Senate's top Republican said he's ready to have a conversation about switching1:23parties.1:23Fetterman did not post the video himself.1:25Fetterman says the video was about introducing a friend and defending Steele.1:30But his own party heard a message about loyalty, and the fallout is real.1:33Dean's district is suburban Philadelphia, the same area where volunteers once1:38knocked doors for Fetterman.1:39The anger wasn't isolated.1:41Representative Chris DeLuzio said he was too lazy to do it in person and failed the1:45Pennsylvanians who elected him.1:47DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta called him the laziest Benedict Arnold America has1:51ever seen and said he should do his job or resign.1:54Representative Brendan Boyle said the video yet again proves why he'd labeled1:57Fetterman Trump's favorite Democrat.1:59Former Representative Connor Lamb compared it to a North Korean newscast and said2:03party officials already treat Fetterman as a non-factor in 2028.2:07The state party chair called it a GOP stunt in a weak midterm convention, and2:11Governor Josh Shapiro said he hadn't seen it.2:14And he was focused on his own work.2:16Fetterman's term runs to January 2029, so the real test comes in November 2028 when2:21his seat is up.2:22Fetterman is not on the ballot in November, but the midterms could flip the Senate.2:26The danger for him is two years later when his own party could choose a different2:30nominee.2:31Names already floated for a 2028 primary challenge include DeLuzio, Lamb, Kenyatta,2:36Boyle, Representative Summer Lee, and former Representative Susan Wilde.2:39That week, polling showed Democrats leading the Senate 51 to 49.2:45Earlier polling showed roughly 62% of Pennsylvania Democrats disapproving of2:50Fetterman, even as Republicans approved.2:52That's the danger in 2028.2:55The video made a primary challenge more likely, and his own party is the threat.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗