Fetterman underwater with Pennsylvania voters despite GOP
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 is a walking contradiction, and Pennsylvania voters have apparently decided they don’t know what to do with him. The new polling showing him underwater overall while remaining popular with state Republicans is less a mystery than a mirror. It reflects the reality that the Democrat Party has lurched so far left that a guy wearing a hoodie and voting with his common sense looks like a traitor to his own caucus.
Commentary is separate from the original publisher's reporting.
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.”
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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.
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.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
Fetterman is a walking contradiction, and Pennsylvania voters have apparently decided they don’t know what to do with him. The new polling showing him underwater overall while remaining popular with state Republicans is less a mystery than a mirror. It reflects the reality that the Democrat Party has lurched so far left that a guy wearing a hoodie and voting with his common sense looks like a traitor to his own caucus. That’s not Fetterman’s problem. That’s the Democrat Party’s real problem.
We’ve watched this play out for two years now. Fetterman doesn’t hide his support for Israel, he talks about the border like a sheriff instead of a social worker, and he doesn’t seem interested in performing the outrage theater that passes for leadership in his party. For that, Republicans in the Keystone State give him grudging respect. It’s the same grudging respect we’d give any Democrat who puts Pennsylvania’s working class ahead of the activist donor class. He isn’t one of us, and he’s not trying to be. But he’s honest about what he believes, and in this political climate, that counts for something.
The interesting part is watching the left squirm. They can’t decide if he’s a plant or a problem, so they settle on calling him “confused.” He isn’t confused. He’s just allergic to the party line, and the party line is what’s sinking him with the general electorate. Pennsylvanians see a guy who says what he means, even when it hurts him. That’s a rare commodity, and it’s why we’re not surprised the GOP base likes him better than the Philadelphia machine does.
Ultimately, this poll tells us less about Fetterman’s future than it does about the current state of play. A Democrat can only drift so far toward the center before his own voters punish him for it, but the rest of the state rewards him for it. Fetterman is stuck in the middle of that tug-of-war, and he’s taking the bruises. He’s playing a risky game of political independence, and for now, it’s the only game worth watching in Pennsylvania. Whether he survives it is up to the voters. We suspect they’ll keep him around just to irritate the people who hate him most.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.