Sen. John Fetterman’s political operation is offering conservative groups a hefty cut of donations to recruit new donors, according to an exclusive new report in The Atlantic that is drawing sharp criticism of the Pennsylvania Democrat.
After Democratic fundraising firm MissionWired ended its work with Fetterman in June, his operation turned to a firm with MAGA-world ties, the report said. In a private message obtained by The Atlantic, a consultant offered conservative groups 75% of each recipient’s first donation.
“Fetterman would profit largely by gaining the contact information of new donors, allowing him to build a fundraising list he could use for a future campaign,” the outlet reported Wednesday.
“The new effort deepens the mystery around his political intentions and is a cause for concern for Democratic leaders,” it added. The latest development for Fetterman has also infuriated Democrats.
“His career as a Democrat is over. We didn’t push him away. He threw it away,” former Rep. Conor Lamb, who is considering challenging Fetterman in 2028, told The Atlantic. “He is the one who made a decision to do what Trump wanted instead of what Democrats wanted.”
Fetterman’s new fundraising efforts circulated through operations with names including RedMajorities.com, TrumpTruths.org and America1stWarRoom.com. One warned that socialists were “hijacking the Democratic party.”
MAGA Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) also cited Fetterman in an appeal directing donors to Lee’s own fundraising account.
“I just got an email from John. He’s basically a Republican now,” Lee wrote. “I need your help to draft him.”
Fetterman has maintained he has no interest in becoming a Republican. But Democrats who spoke to The Atlantic say he also has little chance of winning a Democratic primary in 2028.
“That would leave him with three options,” according to The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer and Matt Viser, “Retirement, becoming a Republican, or running as an independent.”