Fetterman viewed more favorably than GOP senator by Pennsylvania Republicans: Poll

Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), a centrist Democrat who frequently criticizes his party for catering to its left-wing base, is more popular among Republicans in Pennsylvania than the state’s GOP senator, Dave McCormick, according to a new poll.

A New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena University poll of registered voters in Pennsylvania found that 73 percent of Republicans in the state have a favorable opinion of Fetterman while only 63 percent of Republicans view McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO, favorably.

The survey, which was conducted from April 28 to May 7 and from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21, found that 49 percent of independents in Pennsylvania have a favorable view of Fetterman while 36 percent have an unfavorable view.

Democrats’ opinions of Fetterman, however, are more negative than positive.

Sixty-three percent of registered Democrats in the state say they view Fetterman unfavorably while 22 percent view him favorably.

That’s a significant decline in support compared with 2024, when 74 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats said they had a favorable view of Fetterman while 20 percent said they viewed him unfavorably.

At the same time, Republicans who have a favorable view of Fetterman increased from 25 percent in 2024 to more than 7 in 10 this month.

Interviewers for the poll spoke with 760 voters between Aug. 17 and Aug. 21 and placed more than 100,000 calls to nearly 47,000 voters picked from a demographically balanced survey group.

Fetterman’s growing popularity with Republicans in Pennsylvania and around the country has fueled speculation that he could leave the Democratic Party before facing reelection and a likely Democratic primary challenge in 2028.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and other Senate GOP colleagues have approached Fetterman about a potential party switch and have pledged to welcome him to their conference with open arms.

“I have had conversations with him in the past, as have many of my colleagues about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And there are many of us who, I think, would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference, but ultimately that’s a decision that’s up to him,” Thune told reporters last month.

Fetterman, however, says he has no plans to leave the Democratic Party, but he warned last month that could change if Democrats ever turn their backs as a party against Israel.

“If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me,” he said during an interview at the Hill Nation Summit in Washington.

Fetterman said he “can’t understand why the Democratic Party” would turn against a long-standing ally.

He voiced major “concern” over the views of Democrats who have become increasingly critical of U.S. aid for Israel amid growing pressure from the party’s progressive base.

“My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel,” he said.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has urged Fetterman not to leave the party.

Asked last month if he wants Fetterman to remain a Democrat, Schumer responded: “Yes, and he is a very good member of Congress.”

“People in our caucus very much like him and respect him and we’re a big-tent party. We can have a lot of different views in that party,” Schumer said.