Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a Democrat who has increasingly broken with his party's left flank, took aim at Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) over the independent's endorsements of two progressive Senate candidates, including one who dropped out of a race in Maine amid sexual assault allegations.
In an interview Saturday on Fox News's "Saturday in America" with Kayleigh McEnany, Fetterman criticized Sanders for backing Abdul El-Sayed, who is challenging Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) for Michigan's open Senate seat, and Graham Platner, a former Maine candidate who suspended his campaign earlier this month after two women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct.
"You know, Bernie is there campaigning for this guy," Fetterman said, referring to El-Sayed. He then went further, telling Sanders to "humble yourself." Fetterman accused Sanders of pushing "an accused rapist and imploded up in Maine" and of now supporting "essentially a pro-Hamas candidate that's been anti-American and deeply anti-Israel."
El-Sayed, a progressive public health expert, has been endorsed by Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who rallied with him in Detroit on Saturday. The Michigan primary is set for Aug. 4, and recent polls show Stevens holding a narrow lead. The race has become a flashpoint in the broader Democratic struggle between the party's establishment and its insurgent progressive wing, with the Israel-Hamas war sharpening divisions. Fetterman has been a vocal supporter of Israel and has warned he would leave the party if it abandons the ally.
Platner, an oyster farmer, exited the Maine Senate race after allegations surfaced that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2021 and engaged in other misconduct. He has denied the allegations. Sanders, who had endorsed Platner, said earlier this month that he advised the candidate to step aside. "In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside," Sanders said in a statement.
Fetterman's comments underscore the growing rift between the party's moderate and progressive factions, particularly on cultural and foreign policy issues. The Pennsylvania senator has drawn a sharp line on Israel, warning he would quit the Democrats if the party abandons the ally. His critique of Sanders also echoes broader concerns among some Democrats that progressive endorsements could hurt the party's electoral prospects in key races.
The Michigan Senate primary remains competitive, with Stevens holding a 7-point edge in a recent poll. El-Sayed has drawn support from the United Auto Workers, which endorsed him, signaling a shift in the union's traditional alignment. Meanwhile, Platner's collapse has reshuffled the Maine race, potentially boosting Democratic chances to hold the seat.
The Hill has reached out to the Sanders and El-Sayed campaigns for comment.
