Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a centrist Democrat known for occasionally bashing his party's left flank, is more popular among Keystone State Republicans than their own GOP senator, Sen. Dave McCormick, according to a new poll released this week by the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena University.
The survey provides further evidence that Fetterman, who at times breaks with his party and aligns with President Donald Trump, and who is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel, has become increasingly popular among Republicans. The release of the poll may boost speculation that the first-term senator could potentially leave the Democrats and join the Republican Party.
What the Right Is Saying
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and other Senate Republicans have reached out to Fetterman regarding a potential party switch. "I have had conversations with him in the past, as have many of my colleagues about the challenges he faces in his caucus," Thune told reporters in July. "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."
Matt Beynon, a veteran Pennsylvania-based Republican consultant, said Republicans appreciate Fetterman's willingness to challenge elements of his own party. "I think a lot of Republicans appreciate the fact that Sen. Fetterman is willing to stick his thumb in the radical wing of his party's eye on issues like antisemitism," Beynon told Fox News Digital.
Fetterman has increasingly railed against fellow Democrats who have criticized Israeli leaders over their ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. "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 last month at a Hill Nation Summit in Washington.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats have expressed frustration with Fetterman's growing embrace by Republicans and his public criticism of fellow party members. Critics within the Democratic caucus argue that his rhetoric undermines the party's positions on Israel and its relationship with progressive voters. Some party strategists worry that Fetterman is positioning himself for a party switch, which would weaken the Senate Democratic majority.
Fetterman's declining standing among Democrats was reflected in the poll, which showed just 22% of registered Democrats in Pennsylvania viewing him favorably. That's down dramatically from two years ago, when 74% of Democrats viewed him favorably. The senator has faced ongoing criticism from progressive activists over his support for Israel and his willingness to break with colleagues on key votes.
What the Numbers Show
The polling data reveals a dramatic shift in Fetterman's popularity among Republicans. Nearly 3 in 4 Republican registered voters in Pennsylvania (73%) held a favorable opinion of Fetterman, according to the poll. That's 10 points higher than the 63% of Republicans in the state who viewed McCormick favorably.
That 73% figure represents a major increase from the 25% of Republicans who said they viewed Fetterman favorably in 2024, two years after the senator was elected. The survey also indicated that by a 49%-35% margin, independents held a favorable view of Fetterman.
However, Beynon noted that despite Fetterman's growing popularity among Republicans, "when it comes time for the senator's re-election campaign in 2028, those same voters will be reminded that John Fetterman votes with Democrats more than 90% of the time."
The Bottom Line
Fetterman has denied that he plans to leave the Democratic Party. But his growing popularity among Republicans and declining standing within his own party have fueled speculation about a potential switch before he faces re-election in 2028.
The senator's positions on Israel have put him at odds with progressive Democrats, who have increasingly criticized Israeli government policies. Should Fetterman decide to switch parties, it would further narrow the Senate Democratic majority and signal continued realignment in American politics along cultural and foreign policy lines rather than traditional economic ones.