Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania’s approval rating with Democrats in his home state has plummeted, a new poll from Quinnipiac University shows on Wednesday.
Newsweek reached out to Fetterman’s office via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Fetterman’s plunging approval among Democratic voters in Pennsylvania signals a significant political shift for the first-term senator. Once celebrated for flipping a key seat in 2022, he now faces sharp criticism from his party’s base over a series of policy positions and previous questions about his performance and health.
This decline in support could invite primary challengers and complicate a potential reelection bid in 2028, while also highlighting growing ideological rifts within the Democratic Party in a pivotal swing state.
What To Know
In the poll from Quinnipiac released on Wednesday, Fetterman’s approval rating with Democrats is 54 percent compared to a 33 percent disapproval rating. In a poll from January 2024, the pollster notes that Fetterman’s approval with Democrats was 80 percent versus a 10 percent disapproval rating.
Fetterman’s approval rating among Republicans is higher, with 62 percent compared to a 21 percent disapproval rating, Wednesday’s poll also shows. In January 2024, Fetterman had a 75 percent disapproval rating with Republicans compared to a 16 percent approval rating.
The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,579 Pennsylvanian self-identified registered voters from September 25 to September 29. The poll has a margin of error of 3.3 percent.
The Pennsylvania senator’s overall approval rating is 46 percent versus a 38 percent disapproval rating, per the new poll. The January 2024 poll showed Fetterman with a 45 percent overall approval rating, versus a 42 percent disapproval rating.
Public criticism from within his Democratic Party has intensified over Fetterman’s stances on issues like border security and his strong support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
His willingness to work with Republicans and vote for several Trump Cabinet nominees further alienated some progressives. Fetterman’s health and senatorial attendance have also been questioned, with The Philadelphia Inquirer’s editorial board publishing a piece in June urging him to “serve Pennsylvanians, or step away.”
What People Are Saying
Columbia University political science professor Robert Y. Shapiro, to Newsweek via email on Wednesday: “John Fetterman is a very idiosyncratic political figure to say the least and at odds with some Democratic leaders and especially the further liberal wing of the party. His personality has pluses and minuses for voters. His decline in approval certainly poses a risk for his re-election — but this depends on his primary and general election opponents. Regarding congressional races, I do not see this one way or the other, but if the ratings of other Democrats in the state are dropping, that could be a problem for the Democrats.”
What Happens Next
Amid ongoing scrutiny, Fetterman has continued to defend his record and party allegiance. Pennsylvania’s status as a swing state will be closely watched as the 2026 midterms approach and speculation intensifies ahead of the 2028 reelection cycle.