Progressive group targets Senate Democrats for backing Trump’s judicial nominees

AP News ^ | December 3, 2025 | JONATHAN J. COOPER

[MinorityRepublican]

A progressive group is targeting two Senate Democrats and an independent senator who voted to confirm some of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, promising to spend more than $1 million in hopes of pushing congressional Democrats to take a stronger stand against the Republican president.

In a weeklong advertising campaign that began on Wednesday, Demand Justice is targeting only senators who aren’t up for reelection next year: Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with independent Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats.

But the group’s president, Josh Orton, said the blitz is only an opening salvo. He threatened an escalation targeting more imminently vulnerable lawmakers and those with presidential ambitions unless they “find their moral compass, and stand up to Trump.”

“We want to change Senate Democratic behavior so that they begin acting in a more moral way and in a more politically expedient way,” Orton said.

The push comes after eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus — including Fetterman, Hassan and King — joined with Republicans to end a government shutdown, a move that angered large swaths of the party’s base. The party is wrestling over the best strategy to fight what many Democrats see as Trump’s authoritarian ambitions while plotting to bounce back from major losses in 2024.

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TOPICS: US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS:

[Leaning Right]

Fetterman is popular in Pennsylvania, even among many Republicans.

I have friends in western Pennsylvania whom I visit now and again. In 2020 there were Trump signs everywhere. Same in 2024.

But in 2022 many of those same yards had Fetterman signs out.

That doesn’t mean Fetterman is safe. If the DNC cares to put in huge amounts of money to primary him, out he might go.

Money talks.
💰

[No name given]

Indeed.

[MinorityRepublican]

That doesn’t mean Fetterman is safe. If the DNC cares to put in huge amounts of money to primary him, out he might go.

Fetterman should think about creating a new political party in Pennsylvania.

[Leaning Right]

> Fetterman should think about creating a new political party in Pennsylvania. <

I actually met Fetterman back when he was mayor of Braddock, PA. We had a brief talk on a walking trail.

He’s pro-abortion. That alone puts us in different camps. But I greatly admire his independent stance. And Fetterman is perhaps alone among the Democrats in fiercely denouncing Hamas - and supporting Israel - after the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks.

That takes guts. I’ll give him respect for that.

[wjcsux]

Fetterman is kind of a mixed bag. I really do admire him for not being in lockstep with the rest of the commie RATS.