Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman Faces Growing Party Rift, New Poll Shows

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted July 9-13 among 895 registered Pennsylvania voters found that 52 % of respondents want Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) to leave the Democratic Party. The desire to see him switch parties cuts across the electorate: 57 % of Democrats, 55 % of Republicans and 46 % of independents expressed this view. Fetterman’s overall approval sits at 48 % with 41 % disapproval, but the partisan split is stark.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)The HillNewsweek

Pennsylvania has become a key battleground state. In 2024 the state voted for President Donald Trump by a two-point margin after backing Joe Biden by just over one point in 2020. Governor Josh Shapiro’s lead over Republican challenger Stacy Garrity in the 2026 gubernatorial race narrowed to 13 points, down from an 18-point advantage earlier in the year. Fetterman, who won his Senate seat in 2022 by about five points, has frequently voted with Republicans and supported several Trump nominees, prompting friction with the Democratic base.

NewsweekA new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)The Hill

• John Fetterman – Democratic U.S. Senator, subject of the poll.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• Dave McCormick – Republican U.S. Senator, co-founder of a joint fundraising committee with Fetterman.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• Chris Deluzio – Democratic U.S. Representative, vocal critic of the bipartisan fundraising effort.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• Brendan Boyle, Conor Lamb – Potential Democratic primary challengers.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• Tim Malloy – Polling analyst at Quinnipiac University, provided commentary on the results.

The Hill

• Overall approval: 48 % approve, 41 % disapprove.

The Hill

• Republican approval of Fetterman: 77 % approve, 12 % disapprove.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• Democratic approval: 19 % approve, 69 % disapprove (the highest Democratic disapproval in the poll).

Newsweek

• Independents: 44 % approve, 48 % disapprove.

Newsweek

• 52 % of all voters want Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• Governor Shapiro’s approval: 56 % (down from 56 % in February), with 34 % disapproval.

Newsweek

• President Trump’s approval in Pennsylvania: 39 % satisfied, 58 % disapprove.

The Hill

Fetterman reiterated his commitment to the Democratic Party, stating he has “no plans” to change affiliation and would only consider leaving if the party became “the anti-Israel party.” He defended the joint fundraising committee with McCormick as a pragmatic effort, describing it as “people have joint interest in the things that we happen to agree on, if we both represent Pennsylvania.” Representative Deluzio labeled the arrangement “crazy stuff,” arguing it enables Fetterman to help Republicans raise money to defeat Democrats in battleground races.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

Progressive Democrats have criticized Fetterman’s willingness to support Trump nominees and his criticism of the party’s progressive wing. Deluzio and other House Democrats contend that the bipartisan fundraising effort undermines Democratic electoral prospects in competitive Pennsylvania districts.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

Fetterman has not disclosed whether he will seek a second six-year term in 2028. Potential Democratic primary challengers identified in the poll include Representatives Brendan Boyle and Chris Deluzio, as well as former Representative Conor Lamb, who lost the 2022 Democratic primary to Fetterman.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows Sen. John Fetterman has higher approval among Pennsylvania Republicans (77%) than among his own party's Democrats (19%)

• “The Democrats would like to show him the door. The Republicans seem to be welcoming him in. Thus is the political irony of Senator John Fetterman,” — Tim Malloy, polling analyst, Quinnipiac University

The Hill

• “I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats,” — John Fetterman, U.S. Senator

The Hill

• “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,” — John Fetterman, Hill Nation Summit interview

The Hill

• “It’s pretty much—people have joint interest in the things that we happen to agree on, if we both represent Pennsylvania,” — John Fetterman, interview with The Washington Examiner

Newsweek

• “We have battleground races in Pennsylvania that we are trying to flip, and now we’ve got John Fetterman helping the Republicans to raise money to beat Democrats,” — Chris Deluzio, U.S. Representative

Newsweek