Pennsylvania Voters Approve Of Shapiro, Fetterman Pro-Israel Stances, Poll Shows

HARRISBURG, Pa. (VINnews) — Pennsylvania voters largely back the pro-Israel positions of Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. John Fetterman, according to a New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena University poll released this week.

Nearly half of likely voters, 47 percent, said Shapiro’s approach to Israel is “about right.” Another 43 percent said the same of Fetterman’s outspoken defense of the Jewish state.

Just 14 percent said Shapiro is “too supportive” of Israel, while 19 percent said he is “not supportive enough.” For Fetterman, 30 percent said he is too supportive and 6 percent said he is not supportive enough.

The survey of 760 likely Pennsylvania voters was conducted Aug. 17-21 and has a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points.

Shapiro, a Jewish Democrat, has remained a consistent supporter of Israel since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of about 1,200 people in southern Israel. He condemned the attack, spoke at a synagogue, and ordered flags at the state Capitol lowered to half-staff. He has argued that the United States should keep its security alliance with Israel while using American leverage over how weapons are used. He has also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s right-wing governing coalition.

Among Democrats in the state, 59 percent said Shapiro’s Israel position is about right. Republicans were split: 39 percent said it was about right, and 40 percent said he was not supportive enough.

Fetterman has become one of the most vocal pro-Israel Democrats in Congress, often breaking with members of his own party. Democrats were more critical of him: about 51 percent of Democratic voters said he was too supportive of Israel. Republicans have viewed him more favorably as he has criticized what he calls his party’s leftward shift on the issue.

The poll found a clear generational split. Forty percent of voters under 30 said Shapiro is too supportive of Israel, far higher than the statewide figure.

Shapiro also led Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity 55 percent to 39 percent in the same survey, a 16-point advantage.

The results come as Democrats remain divided nationally over Israel. The Pennsylvania numbers suggest Shapiro’s stance has not become a broad liability among general-election voters in a key battleground state. Shapiro is widely viewed as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender.