Maverick Democrat surges with Republicans as his own party turns on him, stoking talk of GOP switch

Sen.

John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a centrist Democrat known for 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.

The release of the poll this week by the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena University is 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 survey may boost speculation that the first-term senator could potentially bolt the Democrats and become a Republican.

But Fetterman has denied that he plans to leave the Democratic Party.

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.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB The 73% of Republicans who view Fetterman favorably is a major increase from the 25% who said the same thing in 2024, two years after the senator was elected.

But Fetterman's standing among Democrats continued to sink, according to the poll .

Just 22% of registered Democrats in Pennsylvania said they had a favorable view of Fetterman, while 63% viewed him unfavorably.

That's a dramatic reversal from two years ago, when 74% of Democrats viewed Fetterman favorably.

The survey also indicated that by a 49%-35% margin independents held a favorable view of Fetterman.

Matt Beynon, a veteran Pennsylvania-based Republican consultant, told Fox News Digital, "I think a lot of Republicans appreciate the fact that Senator Fetterman is willing to stick his thumb in the radical wing of his party’s eye on issues like antisemitism." WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE MIDTERM RACES SHOW Fetterman's growing popularity among Republicans has fueled speculation that he leave the Democratic Party before potentially facing a primary challenge when he's up for re-election in 2028.