Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is underwater with Pennsylvania voters but is relatively popular among Republicans in the state, according to a new poll.
Fetterman has faced intense scrutiny over where his loyalties lie as the Democrat often drifts into GOP circles, leading to questions he may be looking to cross the aisle. The freshman senator affirmed his plans last month, losing his temper to proclaim he is “not going to be a Republican.”
A Quinnipiac University poll conducted during the first week of October found about 46% of Pennsylvania voters have an “unfavorable” opinion of Fetterman compared to 37% who have a favorable opinion. Among his party, Fetterman is performing even worse, with 69% of Democrats having an unfavorable opinion of the senator compared to 13% who have a favorable opinion.
However, it’s not all bleak for Fetterman, as the majority of Republicans in the Keystone State think favorably of him, about 72% compared to the 19% who have an unfavorable opinion.
As for his job approval, only 41% of respondents approve of Fetterman’s job performance. Among Republicans, 74% approve of Fetterman’s performance, compared to just 19% of Democrats. He is performing better among independents, with 32% approving of his handling of the job.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted among 1,159 likely Pennsylvania voters and has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.
Fetterman has repeatedly asserted his intention to remain a Democrat, and he votes with the caucus the majority of the time. However, on several high-profile votes, including those related to the Iran war, Fetterman has bucked his party and voted with Republicans.
Outside of the chamber, Fetterman has also supported Republicans and joined GOP gatherings. The Washington Examiner exclusively reported that he attended a retreat with executives from Fox News, traveling to Montana in July at the invitation of the network’s owners. He also made a video appearance at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention last month, praising President Donald Trump and his colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), which was met with backlash from his party.
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Last month, Fetterman raised his voice at a reporter who asked about the senator’s thoughts on switching parties.
Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028, but he could face a primary challenger.