Internal polling from Democrats reportedly show that Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who has been on the receiving end of renewed questions about his mental health over the past weeks, is on shaky ground in a part of the state on which he leaned heavily for support.
Politico reported that almost half of Democratic voters in Pittsburgh (49%) said they have an unfavorable impression of Fetterman, compared to 46% who said they have a favorable one. The figures compare to those of Governor Josh Shapiro, who is seen favorably by 82% of respondents and negatively by 13%.
The poll is especially significant considering that Fetterman lives just outside of Pittsburgh. The outlet noted that he made his personal ties to the region a key part of his political brand during his 2022 Senate campaign. Fetterman won Allegheny county, where Pittsburgh is located, by 25 percentage points.
The outlet did note that other public polls show Democratic voters in the state sticking by Fetterman despite critics within the party, especially regarding his continued support for Israel and a recent meeting with Donald Trump. In fact, a Morning Consult survey showed his numbers among Republicans have improved while staying steady with Democrats.
The senator's support may have shifted since the poll was conducted in early February, especially after two episodes related to his mental health. The latest one was a reported outburst during a meeting with union officials.
The Associated Press detailed that the episode took place last week as Fetterman met with representatives from a Pennsylvania teachers union. The senator began shouting and questioning why "everybody is mad at me" before slamming his hands on a desk and asking "why does everyone hate me, what did I ever do."
Another witness of the episode recalled that a staffer quickly ended the meeting, escorting officials into a hallway before breaking down crying. The woman was comforted by union officials who were also rattled by the incident.
Days earlier, New York Magazine published feature that included multiple testimonies from former staff and advisers outlining their own concerns about Fetterman. The piece included a letter from former chief of staff Adam Jentleson, who told a neuropsychiatrist who had treated Fetterman for depression that he appeared to be off his recovery plan, detailing "long, rambling, repetitive and self-centered monologues."
"Former and current staffers paint a picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for, and whose mental health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported. No one is saying every issue (say, his respectful relationship with Trump) stems from his mental health—but it's become harder to tell which ones do," reads a preview of the piece.
Fetterman dismissed the piece as a "one-source hit piece and some anonymous sources," adding that there are no people concerned about his mental health. Regarding the outburst at the union meeting, the senator said in a statement that they "had a spirited conversation about our collective frustration with the Trump administration's cuts to our education system."
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