WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, reiterated on Tuesday that he has no intention of switching to the Republican Party, expressing frustration over repeated questions about his political allegiance. “I’m not going to be a Republican!” Fetterman told reporters on Capitol Hill, raising his voice and shaking his head. “If I turned Republican, then I’d be a liar.” He added, “My name is not on the ballot. Chill and wait for the midterm here. I’ve always been a Democrat. It’s like, no matter how many times I say that, I’m still getting asked just getting into the elevator.” Fetterman, first elected in 2022, has grown increasingly distant from his party, largely due to his strong and unwavering support for Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He frequently appears on Fox News, where he often discusses and criticizes left-wing members of the Democratic Party. While these views have drawn attention, they would be less unusual if he were to switch to the Republican Party. Speculation about Fetterman’s potential defection began in mid-July when he suggested he might leave the Democratic Party if it officially became “anti-Israel” in its platform. Republicans have since reached out to him, and he questioned in an interview with NBC News whether Democrats still wanted him in the party. In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, praised Fetterman, calling him “a very good member of Congress” and someone Democrats respect. Speculation resurfaced last week when Fetterman appeared in a video at a Republican midterm convention in Dallas, introducing his “friend,” Senator David McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania. Fetterman later said he would not switch parties if Democrats regain control of the Senate in November. His seat is up for re-election in 2028, and his chances of being renominated as a Democrat are declining rapidly. A recent poll by the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Siena College found his approval rating among Democrats at just 22%, down from 74% in May 2024. While his approval among Pennsylvania Republicans has risen, his chances of winning a Republican primary may be even more challenging, given his liberal stances on issues like healthcare expansion, raising the minimum wage, and supporting LGBTQ rights and legal abortion. Fetterman avoided questions about a new X account reportedly run by former staffers who have turned against him. He also did not comment on a recent Wall Street Journal report that detailed concerns from former staff and lawmakers about his lack of interest in his senatorial duties. Neither he nor his office responded to that story, but he called the reporting “smears” in a statement to CNN. McCormick, the Republican senator, quickly defended Fetterman, calling the reports an example of “outrageously disloyal staff and forces on the Left using anonymous leaks to cancel my friend John Fetterman.” McCormick added that Fetterman’s independence and refusal to conform to party lines are what make him a target.