A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found that 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters would like Sen. John Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party, underscoring deep unease about the senator’s partisan alignment even though his personal approval rating remains slightly positive.
Poll numbers and partisan breakdown
The survey reported Fetterman’s overall approval at 48 percent, but support for a party switch cut across political lines. The poll showed:
- 57 percent of Democrats favoring his departure
- 55 percent of Republicans wanting him to switch
- 46 percent of independents saying he should leave the party
“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,” Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a release.
The findings come amid sustained attention to Fetterman’s voting record in Washington, where he has occasionally sided with Republicans and publicly criticized his own party. The senator has repeatedly rejected talk that he plans to change his registration; in March he told NewsNation that his appeal among Republican voters was “confusing,” and in May he wrote that he would not fit the Republican mold.
Why the poll matters for Pennsylvania
The results matter for state and national politics for several reasons. Fetterman represents a competitive state where party control is closely watched. A prominent senator who is publicly at odds with his party can affect fundraising, messaging and turnout for Democrats across Pennsylvania, especially in suburban and rural areas where Democrats have billed him as a bridge to swing voters.
At the same time, the survey also included data on the 2026 midterm gubernatorial race, showing Gov. Josh Shapiro with a comfortable lead over Republican Stacy Garrity, although that margin reportedly narrowed since February. Shapiro’s standing—56 percent approval to 34 percent disapproval in the poll—contrasts with sharper uncertainty about Fetterman’s partisan future.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Fetterman approval | 48% |
| Voters wanting him to leave Democrats | 52% |
| Shapiro approval | 56% |
Political context and next steps
Fetterman won his Senate seat in 2022 by unseating a Republican incumbent and has since occupied a high-profile spot in the closely divided Senate. His occasional cross-party votes and public criticisms of Democratic positions have generated speculation among political observers and activists in both parties. Fetterman has said he would consider leaving the party only if it took a position he found morally indefensible.
For Pennsylvania voters and party officials, the poll spotlights the challenge of aligning elected officials’ voting records with their party bases while maintaining appeal to swing voters. How Fetterman responds to growing pressure—either by reaffirming his party loyalty or by continuing to chart an independent course—could influence Democratic cohesion in the state heading into the midterms.
The Quinnipiac results add to a string of surveys that show Pennsylvanians closely evaluating their statewide leaders as the 2026 election season ramps up.
