The Monroe County Democratic Party issued a sharply worded social media post on Sunday condemning Senator John Fetterman, following his recent appearance on Fox News in which he declined to rule out supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a cabinet position. The party's statement called Fetterman a "traitor to Democrats," a "traitor to Pennsylvanians," and a "traitor to those who worked tirelessly to elect him," while also urging primary challengers and calling for his defeat in 2028.
During the Fox News interview, Fetterman defended his willingness to support Trump administration cabinet nominees, specifically praising Secretary of State Marco Rubio as having "done a great job overall." He characterized cross-party cooperation on cabinet votes as historically routine and suggested his party was defined by what he termed "Trump Derangement Syndrome." "We have to find a way to work together, and we can agree on some things, and we're going to disagree on other things," Fetterman said.
Fetterman's voting record has fueled mounting friction within Pennsylvania's Democratic establishment. Most recently, he was one of only two Democrats to vote in favor of confirming Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security. The Monroe County Democratic Party is not the first local organization to publicly oppose him; in March 2025, Cumberland County Democratic Party Chairman Matt Roan wrote an op-ed calling for Fetterman to resign.
Monroe County occupies strategic importance in Pennsylvania politics. Located in the Poconos region, the county is regarded as a key swing area. In 2024, Trump won the county by 669 votes over Vice President Kamala Harris—the first Republican presidential victory there since 2004. Fetterman himself won Monroe County in 2022 by 3,505 votes over Republican Mehmet Oz, and had secured 60% of the Democratic primary vote there that same year.
Recent polling reveals a dramatic erosion of Fetterman's standing among Pennsylvania Democrats. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in mid-February found that only 22% of Democrats approved of his Senate performance, while 62% disapproved—a swing of 108 points from his standing in 2023, when he held a plus-68 approval rating among state Democrats. By contrast, 73% of Republicans approved of his work. His overall job approval stood at 46% among all Pennsylvanians, with 40% disapproving.
Despite the intraparty backlash, Fetterman has declined to switch parties, though Politico has reported that some Republicans have attempted to recruit him. He recently donated $100,000 to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and announced support for Eugene DePasquale's successful bid for state party chair. DePasquale stated in September 2025 that he viewed Fetterman as "a loyal Democrat" who remained committed to his campaign platform. Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Greg Rothman said in April he would not rule out supporting Fetterman in 2028 if he changed parties.
