The Pennsylvania Senator’s consistent breaks with party line, including a vote with the GOP to avoid a government shutdown and refusal to use polarizing rhetoric, has profoundly reshaped his public standing.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is now more popular with Republicans than he is with members of his own party, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This dramatic shift highlights the effect of Fetterman’s increasingly maverick voting record and his public rejection of the Democratic Party’s more inflammatory rhetoric against political opponents.
The poll showed a striking reversal in sentiment among Pennsylvania voters. Fetterman’s overall approval rating now stands at 46-38, a positive eight-point margin. However, the internal party numbers tell the real story:
- Republicans now approve of Fetterman’s performance 62-21, a massive swing from a 75-16 disapproval in a January 2024 poll.
- Democrats have largely soured on their Senator, with a 54-33 disapproval rating, down from an 80-10 approval in 2024.
This dramatic shift is attributed to Fetterman’s consistent pattern of dissension from the Democratic party line.
A Pattern of Independance
In an appearance on Fox News‘ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Fetterman firmly stated he has no intention of leaving the Democratic Party, but made it clear he would remain an “independent voice.” Crucially, he drew a line against party members who label political opponents “Nazis” or “fascists,” calling such extreme rhetoric “part of the problem in our party.”
“If you want a Democrat that’s going to call people Nazis or fascists or all these kinds of thing, well, I’m not going to be that guy,” Fetterman told host Maria Bartiromo, stressing the need for “less name-calling” and more principled leadership rooted in the truth, regardless of the political source.
This philosophy has translated into key votes that put him directly at odds with his caucus:
Government Shutdown Avoidance: Facing an impending government shutdown, Fetterman was one of only three Democratic Senators to vote with Republicans for a continuing resolution to keep the government open. He later defended his vote on X, stating, “The second vote is about making sure that we keep our government open, and I did vote for that, because I think it’s a sad event if we shut our government down later today.”
Cabinet Confirmation: In February, Fetterman was the sole Democrat to vote with the GOP to confirm Pam Bondi as Attorney General, a decision he defended based on her “qualifications.”
Foreign Policy: In June, he was the only Democrat to vote against a resolution that sought to restrict presidential military action against Iran, arguing he “would never want to restrict any future president, Republican or Democrat.”
Fetterman’s refusal to toe the party line aligns with a sentiment expressed by other moderate Democrats, like Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who have also called for a toning down of “hateful, unchecked language.”
However, other prominent Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), have defended strong rhetoric, insisting that warnings about threats to democracy are urgent and appropriate.
Despite the internal party strife and the polarizing poll results, Fetterman remains clear that he will not “become a Republican,” choosing instead to carve out an unusual, yet increasingly popular, independent path within the Democratic Party.
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