Recent polling indicates that the disapproval rating for Democrat Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is climbing among his own party. According to Quinnipiac University, 54% of Democratic voters in the state now express discontent with Fetterman’s representation in Washington. In contrast, only 33% approve of his performance, while 16% opted not to comment.
This marks a notable shift from last year, when about 80% of Democrats supported Fetterman, and only 10% disapproved. Interestingly, he currently enjoys more favor among Pennsylvania Republicans than within his own party.
The latest survey shows that 62% of Republicans approve of how Fetterman is handling his duties, a stark contrast to previous polling that reported 75% disapproval from Republicans, with only 16% support.
As for independent voters, their views are evenly split—43% approve, and 43% disapprove, maintaining roughly the same proportions as observed earlier this year.
Tim Malloy, a voting analyst from Quinnipiac University, noted the peculiar situation where a politician once seen as a Democratic favorite now finds support among Republicans as Democrats are increasingly critical of him. This reversal is quite striking, especially as GOP voters seem ready to give him a chance.
Despite the political turbulence under a second Trump administration, Fetterman has remained aligned with party lines, recently voting in favor of a House GOP bill aimed at maintaining government funding. Although the StopGap bill ultimately didn’t pass, he urged Democratic leadership to refine their strategy in the face of a potential government shutdown.
On Tuesday, he described the impending closure as something that had plunged the nation into chaos. He also hinted at the possibility of Republicans pursuing elements of the Conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which outlines a blueprint for a second Trump term.
While discussing his political stance on Fox Business Network’s Sunday Morning Futures, Fetterman asserted that he hasn’t switched parties, expressing disagreement with Democrats who label Trump and his supporters as “Nazis or Fascists.” Earlier this year, he indicated that his struggles with mental health have influenced public perceptions of his capability to serve, claiming that the media has “weaponized” his battle with depression.
