Sen. John Fetterman's political standing in Pennsylvania has become increasingly unusual, with the Democratic senator receiving substantially higher marks from Republicans than from members of his own party.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found that 72% of Pennsylvania Republicans have a favorable opinion of Fetterman, while just 19% view him unfavorably. Among Democrats, only 13% have a favorable opinion of the senator, compared with 69% who view him unfavorably.

The survey of 1,159 Pennsylvania likely voters was conducted Oct. 1-5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. Overall, Fetterman was viewed favorably by 37% of likely voters and unfavorably by 46%.

The numbers come as Fetterman has increasingly broken with members of his own party on several high-profile issues. The Pennsylvania senator has criticized the Democratic Party's political brand, supported a number of President Donald Trump's nominees and repeatedly pushed back against Democrats over their approach to Israel.

Fetterman has also declined to embrace efforts to personally attack Trump, saying that he does not want to see an American president fail because doing so would ultimately hurt the country.

"If you're rooting against the president, you are rooting against the nation," Fetterman has said. "So country first!"

His positions have made him a frequent source of frustration for some Democrats, while Republicans have increasingly responded positively to his willingness to depart from the party line.

The latest Quinnipiac survey also found that Republicans strongly approve of Fetterman's performance in the Senate. Seventy-four percent of Republicans said they approve of the way he is handling his job, compared with 20% who disapprove. Among Democrats, just 19% approved while 72% disapproved.

Fetterman's shift in standing has fueled speculation about whether he could eventually leave the Democratic Party and seek reelection as a Republican in 2028. Fetterman has publicly said he has no plans to switch parties.

The possibility would nevertheless carry major political implications. A party switch could become particularly significant if control of the Senate is closely divided after the 2026 elections, potentially affecting the balance of power in the chamber.

Fetterman would also face obstacles within the Republican Party. Despite his recent disagreements with Democrats, he remains aligned with the political left on several cultural issues, including abortion and LGBTQ-related policies, which could put him at odds with Republican primary voters.

The senator was elected to the Senate in 2022 after serving as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor. His current term runs through January 2029, meaning the next Senate election in Pennsylvania will take place in 2028.

The latest numbers build on a broader trend seen in Quinnipiac polling this year. A July survey found that 77% of Pennsylvania Republicans approved of Fetterman's job performance, while 69% of Democrats disapproved. That same poll found that 52% of Pennsylvania voters wanted Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party, compared with 31% who wanted him to remain a Democrat.