Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is seeing a rise in his approval with the GOP but losing support within his party.
A new poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, showed the Pennsylvania Democrat having a surprising split in his popularity among registered voters in the state. The poll showed Fetterman with a 41% approval rating, and a disapproval rating of 37%. Susquehanna president James Lee said that while his overall approval rating is mediocre, his 45% approval with his opposition is significantly above average. Just 40% of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Mr. Fetterman.
The poll also detailed a discrepancy in the dislike percentages of the first-term Senator, with 39% of Democrats disapproving of Fetterman’s job performance compared to 37% of Republicans. The Pennsylvania Democrat has repeatedly bucked his own party, including most recently in a town hall with Republican Sen. Dave McCormack, an ally of President Trump’s administration. Fetterman has voted with Republicans in the Senate and recently made public comments critical of his party’s rhetoric on Israel and supporting President Trump’s actions with Iran.
Most recently, Fetterman called out Democrats for a lack of anger when anti-ICE protests turned violent in Los Angeles. He criticized the lack of acknowledgement of the “true chaos” the protests caused in the nation’s second largest city.
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration — but this is not that,” Fetterman said on X, along with a photo of the violence that swept Los Angeles. “This is anarchy and true chaos. My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.” Fetterman was equally critical of Democrats for refusing to condemn nationwide college campus protests against Israel, some of which turned violent and led to a series of hearings of how large universities have dealt with rising anti-Semitism.
Despite his willingness to buck his party and offer support to President Trump, Fetterman has repeatedly quelled rumors of a party switch. He pointed to his support of pro-LGBT policies and support for abortion as reasons he would not fit in with the GOP. In response to the Susquehanna poll, the Pennsylvania Republican party released a statement downplaying support for Fetterman.
“Today’s Democratic Party is run by coastal elites and far-left activists. There’s no room for someone who speaks plainly, pushes back, or breaks with the progressive line on things like support for Israel,” the statement reads. “Fetterman’s rising numbers with Republicans say more about the Democratic Party’s drift than his record.”
Throughout his term in the Senate, Fetterman has been no stranger to the public eye or media scrutiny. He suffered a stroke during his campaign in 2022 that led to months of questions over his physical wellbeing. In 2023, he voluntarily hospitalized himself for treatment of depression. More recently, a video of him in an altercation with airplane crewmembers went viral. Fetterman’s campaign did not comment on the incident, but those close to him expressed increasing concern over his mental health.
