(The Center Square) \u2013 A plurality of likely voters in Pennsylvania have a favorable opinion of their U.S. senators, although one has the advantage with both parties and independents, according to a new poll.<\/p>\n
Forty-nine percent of likely voters in the Keystone State have either a very or somewhat favorable view of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, while 43% have an unfavorable view of him, according to a New York Times\/Philadelphia Inquirer\/Siena poll<\/a> conducted in Pennsylvania from Aug. 17-21.<\/p>\n Thirty-nine percent of likely voters in Pennsylvania also have a favorable opinion of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, while 30% have an unfavorable view of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Among those who identified themselves as Republicans, 79% have a favorable opinion of Fetterman, while 17% have an unfavorable view. Among his fellow Republicans, 66% have a favorable opinion of McCormick, while 10% have an unfavorable view.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both senators’ approval ratings are underwater among likely voters who identify as Democrats.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just 20% of Democrats said they view Fetterman favorably, while 69% view him unfavorably. Eighteen percent of Democrats have a favorable opinion of McCormick, while just under half, 49%, have an unfavorable view of the GOP senator.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fetterman\u2019s notoriety also stands out.<\/p>\n Seven percent said that they didn\u2019t know or refused to respond when asked about their view of the state\u2019s senior senator, while just 1% polled said they had not heard of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n For McCormick, 21% said they didn\u2019t know or refused to respond when asked whether they viewed him favorably, while 12% said they hadn’t heard of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, both senators are above water with independents. Fifty-four percent of independents have a favorable opinion of Fetterman, while 39% have an unfavorable opinion. McCormick holds a 40% favorability rating among independents, while 30% view him unfavorably.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fetterman has found himself at odds with his fellow Democrats during Trump\u2019s second term in the Oval Office, while McCormick is an ally of the president.\u00a0<\/p>\n Forty-seven percent of likely voters in Pennsylvania say that Fetterman is \u201cabout right\u201d when it comes to Trump, while 38% said that he supports the president too much, and just 6% said that he opposes the president too much.<\/p>\n Donald Trump won Pennsylvania\u2019s 19 electoral votes in 2024, however, the latest poll shows that a majority of voters said they don\u2019t approve of his handling of the presidency.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fifty-eight percent of Pennsylvania likely voters either strongly or somewhat disapprove of Trump\u2019s job performance, while 39% either strongly approve or somewhat approve of the president\u2019s handling of his job.<\/p>\n Voters were also asked about Trump\u2019s handling of five issues as president, which included the economy, cost of living, immigration, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the war in Iran. A majority disapproved of Trump\u2019s handling of all of them.<\/p>\n Although Fetterman, McCormick, and Trump won\u2019t be on the ballot, the president\u2019s job performance is expected to play a role in down-ballot races in Pennsylvania and beyond in November.<\/p>\n As control of the U.S. House is on the line, Democrats are targeting four seats to flip in Pennsylvania, which could deliver them a majority in 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n