Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has revealed that he is siding with Republicans on the need for voter identification requirements, in direct opposition to the rest of his party.
It comes as lawmakers debate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding and the possibility of a government shutdown.
The senator discussed his position during a recent appearance on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Fetterman was asked about discussions surrounding voter ID requirements ahead of a potential partial shutdown tied to DHS funding.
Earlier this week, lawmakers agreed to fund all federal departments except DHS to allow time for negotiations over federal immigration enforcement reforms.
Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have urged Senate Republicans to deploy the standing filibuster, an older Senate procedure requiring opposing members to physically hold the floor, to advance the House-passed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
The move would depart from the modern “zombie” filibuster, which allows legislation to be blocked unless 60 votes are reached.
“And now me as a Democrat, I do not believe that it’s unreasonable to show ID just to vote,” Fetterman said.
The Pennsylvania Democrat is pointing to recent elections in Wisconsin, where voters approved voter ID measures while also electing a liberal state Supreme Court justice.
“So it’s not a radical idea for regular Americans to show your id to vote, and absolutely those things are not Jim Crow or anything,” he added.
His comment diverged from prior remarks by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who compared voter ID legislation to Jim Crow-era laws.
Fetterman also tied the debate to border security and deportation policy as some lawmakers threaten a shutdown over DHS funding.
While such a shutdown would not affect funding for ICE and federal deportation operations, secured through 2029 in July’s Big Beautiful Bill, it would impact other DHS agencies.
“Hopefully, we don’t have to do and pay the TSA people and everyone secure our border and focus, focus on deporting all of those kinds of criminals wherever they are,” Fetterman told Fox News.
“That is a guy that votes for that and supports as a Democrat I never want to vote to shut our government down again.”
WATCH:
Despite expressing support for voter ID in principle, Fetterman has said he does not support the SAVE Act.
His comments come as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) considers calls from Republican lawmakers and the White House to deploy the standing filibuster.
In a Friday post on Truth Social, Trump said:
“America’s Elections are Rigged, Stolen, and a Laughingstock all over the World.
“We are either going to fix them, or we won’t have a Country any longer.”
Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Thune said Senate Republicans would discuss requiring a standing filibuster in certain situations, emphasizing that no final decision has been made and that broader implications must be considered.
He noted that such a procedural shift could consume significant Senate floor time, creating an “opportunity cost” that could delay action on other legislative priorities, including housing reform, permitting, artificial intelligence policy, farm bill reauthorization, and highway funding.
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