Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has been making waves recently with a surprising shift in rhetoric that some might say makes him a moderate Democrat. For example, last month, he expressed hope for the success of President-elect Donald Trump.
"I'm not rooting against him," he said. "If you're rooting against the president, you are rooting against the nation. And I'm not ever going to be where I want a president to fail. So, country first. I know that's become maybe like a cliche, but it happens to be true."
Left-wing activists were furious, of course, and they weren’t too thrilled when Fetterman expressed a willingness to engage with Trump’s Cabinet nominees. As refreshing as it was to see a Democrat not being entirely in Resist Mode, I’m skeptical that he will live up to the perception of being a moderate.
With a conservative score of just 7% from Heritage Action for America, Fetterman’s far more leftist than the average Senate Democrat. So I need to wait and see if he’s really pivoting to become a moderate or if he’s just going to play one on television to improve his reelection in a state trending red.
The true test of Fetterman’s purported moderation lies ahead, and, for what it’s worth, he’s actually doing right so far.
Fetterman has bucked his party and co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act. This marks his first major legislative move in this new Congress and is already causing a stir. The bill, named after the Georgia nursing student murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, seeks to tighten immigration enforcement. It mandates the detention of illegal immigrants arrested for crimes such as burglary and theft and empowers states to sue the federal government for failures in enforcement.
ICE reported tens of thousands of migrants with criminal records — homicide or sexual assault.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 7, 2025
425,000 have criminal records in total and should be deported.
I support a secure border.
I support a legal path for Dreamers.
I support the Laken Riley Act. https://t.co/elEuIByd6s
While the bill passed the House in 2024, the Democrat-controlled Senate blocked it. With a new Congress in session, it faces another vote this Tuesday.
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Fetterman’s support for the bill has added significant momentum, putting pressure on fellow Senate Democrats. In particular, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) has drawn scrutiny for his silence on Riley’s murder, especially as he prepares for a challenging reelection campaign in 2026. The bill needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and Fetterman’s co-sponsorship has raised eyebrows among both parties.
The bigger question remains: Is Fetterman’s recent rhetoric a sign of genuine moderation, or is it simply a calculated move to align with Pennsylvania’s evolving political landscape? His voting record and support for Trump's nominees in the coming term will offer more clarity. For now, Republicans remain cautious, waiting to see if his actions finally match his words.
Believe me, I appreciate Fetterman’s support for the bill. I’d love to be more impressed by his actions here, but supporting the Laken Riley Act should be the biggest no-brainer in politics. Yes, Democrats are going to Democrat and oppose commonsense legislation because they have to resist Trump, but pragmatic Democrats should realize that illegal immigration and the crime it brought into this country was a huge issue in the 2024 election. Those looking to remain in Congress oppose commonsense policies at their own risk.
As for Fetterman, I’m not expecting him to vote with Republicans 50% of the time, but 35% to 40% would convince me that he’s genuinely listening to voters and not his party masters.
