Fetterman draws first 2028 Democratic primary challenger as more Democrats weigh runs
Summary
- Gaza-born Palestinian American writer Ahmed Moor is the first declared candidate for the 2028 Democratic primary against Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
- Moor, a 42-year-old democratic socialist from West Philadelphia, is running on ending the Iran war, sanctions on Israel, Medicare for All, and free childcare.
- Fetterman has drawn criticism for his support for Israel, votes with Republicans, and absences, and has not said whether he will seek a second term.
- A Quinnipiac University poll found 13 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats have a favorable view of Fetterman.
- Democrats' midterm win of a 54-seat Senate majority removed Fetterman's leverage as a decisive swing vote.
- Other Democrats, including Madeleine Dean and Chris Deluzio, are considering runs, and a crowded primary is expected.
Reactions
- Governor Josh Shapiro said Fetterman has work to do to reearn Pennsylvanians' trust and must decide whether he is running again.
- Civil liberties attorney Jenin Younes wrote she is thrilled Moor announced against "Israel-first Senator John Fetterman."
- Representative Chris Deluzio said he has given a Senate run "serious thought" but has not decided.
- Representative Brendan Boyle said on November 4 he would remain in the House rather than run for the seat.
- Former Representative Conor Lamb, floated as a candidate, denied having any plans to run.
- Veteran Lancaster County Democrat Mike Weidinger said he is confident bigger, mainstream names will enter the race.
Timeline newest first
Ahmed Moor said in an interview that John Fetterman will be "irrelevant" without his swing vote and that he represents the future of the Democratic Party.
A report said the Democratic Socialists of America, which grew its House caucus from two to eight in the midterms, is sizing up Democratic incumbents for 2028 primaries, with John Fetterman among them.
Pennsylvania Representative Madeleine Dean said she is considering a 2028 Senate run against John Fetterman, whom she lost to in the 2018 lieutenant governor race, with no timetable set.
News coverage reported Ahmed Moor's democratic socialist launch against John Fetterman, tying US military aid to Israel and the war on Iran to the rising cost of living.
Democrats said the party's new 54-seat Senate majority ends John Fetterman's leverage as a decisive swing vote, and Mike Weidinger named Chris Deluzio and Malcolm Kenyatta as likely challengers.
A Quinnipiac University poll found 13 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats have a favorable view of John Fetterman.
Ahmed Moor announced on X that he is running to end the war in Iran, promote free healthcare, childcare, and affordable housing, and seek accountability for genocide, ICE, and corruption.
Ahmed Moor filed with the Federal Election Commission on November 9, 2026, becoming the first candidate for John Fetterman's Pennsylvania Senate seat, and hired Rasha Mubarak as finance director.
Sources newest first
- John Fetterman's first primary challenger is a progressive born in Gaza
A Mother Jones interview with Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American foreign policy analyst born in Gaza who lost family there, announces he will challenge John Fetterman for his Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2028 as the first declared candidate. Moor, running as a Democratic Socialist on a "dignity agenda" of Medicare for All, universal childcare, and a billionaire wealth tax, calls for sanctions on Israel over Gaza, disbanding ICE, and renewing the Democratic Party, while Mother Jones cites a poll showing just 13 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats view Fetterman favorably and expects a crowded primary.
Fetterman, Schumer, Jeffries: Which Democrats could face DSA primaries?A Newsweek article by reporter Jesus Mesa examines which Democrats could face Democratic Socialists of America primaries in 2028, after the group grew its House caucus from two to eight and helped elect Abdul El-Sayed to the Senate from Michigan. Ahmed Moor says he will challenge Senator John Fetterman, and the report says DSA allies are sizing up Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Hillary Scholten, and Ritchie Torres.
Madeleine Dean ‘considering’ Senate bid against FettermanPolitico's Inside Congress newsletter leads with Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania considering a 2028 Senate run against Sen. John Fetterman, whom she lost to for lieutenant governor in 2018, with no timetable set. It also covers House and Senate GOP leadership elections after the midterm losses, chip-export and permitting negotiations, and Jared Huffman's oversight letters to companies and agencies.
Palestinian American Ahmed Moor Launches 2028 Democratic Primary Challenge Against Sen. FettermanDemocracy Now!'s November 10 headlines lead with Gaza-born Palestinian American writer Ahmed Moor launching a democratic socialist primary challenge against Senator John Fetterman in Pennsylvania for 2028, tying U.S. military aid to Israel and the war on Iran to the cost of living. The newscast also covers Thomas Massie's impeachment articles against Pete Hegseth, stalled peace talks and tanker strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, midterm vote counts, an Anthropic IPO protest, a Supreme Court border wall ruling, migrant deaths, and Russell Brand's prison sentence.
Anti-Fetterman crowd 'thrilled' about who just announced a run against him: ‘You’re done’rawstory.com· 5d
Raw Story reports that Gaza-born Palestinian American writer Ahmed Moor has launched a Democratic primary challenge against Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, the first declared challenger, drawing cheers from critics. The article cites Fetterman's repeated alignment with Republicans on immigration, Iran, and Israel's war in Gaza, and quotes supporters like Jenin Younes celebrating Moor's run.
John Fetterman to be challenged for Senate seat by democratic socialist born in GazaThe Guardian reports that Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American writer born in Rafah, says he will challenge John Fetterman in the 2028 Democratic primary for his Pennsylvania Senate seat, directly opposing the senator's stridently pro-Israel stance and drift toward Republicans. Democrats say Fetterman's vote no longer matters since they won a 54-seat Senate majority.
John Fetterman Gets His First 2028 ChallengerAhmed Moor, a Palestinian American writer born in Rafah and raised in Philadelphia, launched a Senate campaign on November 9, 2026, becoming the first Democrat to challenge Sen. John Fetterman in the 2028 primary. Moor, 42, says he is "running for good government" and focuses his campaign on Gaza's destruction and ending U.S. funding of conflicts abroad. Fetterman, who has drawn fire from Democrats for backing Trump Cabinet nominees and supporting Israel, has not said whether he will run again, and a Quinnipiac poll finds just 13% of Pennsylvania Democrats view him favorably.
First challenger enters race for Fetterman’s seat in 2028A Palestinian American writer and DSA member from Philadelphia, Ahmed Moor announced on November 9 a 2028 Democratic primary challenge to Sen. John Fetterman, pledging on X to end the war in Iran, pursue "accountability for genocide," and back free healthcare, childcare, and affordable housing. The Hill reports Moor is the first challenger as Fetterman, criticized by Democrats over his Israel stance and GOP-aligned votes, has not said whether he will seek reelection.
John Fetterman gets his first 2028 challengerNewsweek reports that Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American writer born in Gaza, has announced a 2028 Democratic primary run against Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, citing U.S. support for Israel, the Iran war, corruption, and the cost of living. Fetterman, who faces criticism for splitting with Democrats and has lost Senate leverage, has not said whether he will seek a second term; Governor Josh Shapiro expects a robust primary.
Ahmed Moor, a Gaza-born Philadelphian, is John Fetterman’s first 2028 challengerGaza-born West Philadelphia writer and businessman Ahmed Moor filed with the FEC on Nov. 9, 2026 as the first candidate for John Fetterman's Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2028, an election Fetterman has not said he will seek. Moor, a democratic socialist inspired by Chris Rabb, Zohran Mamdani, and Abdul El-Sayed, says he is running for good government and the rule of law and backs U.S. sanctions on Israel until Palestinians have equal rights.
Background newest first
Fetterman signals he’d consider quitting Democratic Party over majority leader pick
independent.co.uk· 2h
The Independent reports that Senator John Fetterman says he would consider leaving the Democratic Party if the caucus elects Chris Van Hollen as majority leader, citing disagreements over policy toward Israel. Already isolated over his Israel support and votes with Republicans, Fetterman has seen his Democratic favorability drop to about two in 10 Pennsylvania voters, while potential 2028 challengers eye his seat and Republicans welcome a possible switch.
Fetterman Reveals on Fox the ‘Red Line’ That Would Make Him Ditch Democratic Partymediaite.com· 3h
On Fox News' Saturday in America, Kayleigh McEnany pressed Senator John Fetterman on what would make him leave the Democratic Party, and in a clip played on the show he named his caucus electing Chris Van Hollen, who is running for Senate majority leader and has, in Fetterman's words, "made his name being very hostile to Israel." Fetterman, who also criticized the progressive wing and questioned why Democrats' first instinct is to punish Israel rather than Iran, said, "I don't know how that's going to look, but I am a Democrat."
Democrats turn to 2028 after midterm gains boost moderates and progressiveselpais.com· 17h
An El País article by Luis Doncel reports that Democrats' sweeping 2026 midterm win — 255 House seats, over 100 women lawmakers, and control of both chambers — has revived the party as it looks toward 2028. It says the party ran on affordability and now faces an internal contest between establishment centrists like Hakeem Jeffries and progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with a wide field of contenders expected, from Kamala Harris to Jon Ossoff and Josh Shapiro.
Democrats Would Be Insane Not to Break With Israel Nowsubstack.com· 3d
An opinion column by Hamid Bendaas in The Nation's Substack argues that after the 2026 midterms gave Democrats the Senate and a House majority, the party has a mandate to break with Israel and should strip funding for Israel's military from the 2027 budget and bring the Block the Bombs Act to a vote. Citing JD Vance's post-election statement, Abdul El-Sayed's seven-point Michigan primary win over AIPAC's record $30 million in spending, and the DNC's 2024 autopsy omitting Gaza, Bendaas says unyielding support for Israel is electoral poison.
Can a ‘blue wave’ make U.S. universities great again? | Will Bunch NewsletterWill Bunch's newsletter argues that the midterm "blue tsunami" — Democratic gains in Texas and elsewhere — could begin reversing attacks on higher ed, with AAUP head Todd Wolfson floating a pro-college agenda and Gina Hinojosa set to name 20 new Texas regents. Bunch also condemns the "Boycott Ride" against Jewish-owned Philadelphia businesses, opposes the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, backs Chris Van Hollen over Chuck Schumer for Senate leader, and notes Ahmed Moor's plan to challenge John Fetterman.
Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have an Israel problem – Stateside with Kai and CarterAn episode of the Guardian's Stateside with Kai and Carter podcast, in which Kai Wright speaks with Moustafa Bayoumi about the fight over Israel inside the Democratic party and what pro-Palestine lawmakers' wins mean for Aipac. The episode cites Donald Trump's claim that the Republicans' midterm losses stemmed from gas prices and "a dislike for Israel," and the Guardian says a showdown over support for Israel is looming.
Schumer Faces Pressure to Step Aside as Chris Van Hollen Hints at Run for Senate Majority LeaderDemocracy Now!'s headlines report Senator Chris Van Hollen is open to running for Senate majority leader amid pressure on Chuck Schumer to step aside, and that Representative Thomas Massie has filed eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war, Yemen, boat strikes, and the abduction of Nicolás Maduro, with a House vote expected November 11. The segment also covers midterm counts favoring Democrats, Trump's reversal on accepting the results, a Senate permitting reform bill, protest at Anthropic's offices, the resumption of border wall construction in Texas, Russell Brand's sentence, Salon's shutdown, and Ahmed Moor's primary challenge to John Fetterman.
Pete Hegseth To Hold Presser Defending Himself Against Potential Impeachmenthuffpost.com· 5d
A HuffPost live-updates article leads with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth preparing to hold a Pentagon press conference defending himself against potential impeachment, as Rep. Thomas Massie plans to force a vote on articles over the war in Iran. It also reports on the abrupt halt of a Commerce Department probe into Nvidia chips reaching China, France blaming Iran's Revolutionary Guards for cyberattacks on its supermarkets, Palestinian American writer Ahmed Moor launching a 2028 Senate challenge to Sen. John Fetterman, a White House lockdown after two Lafayette Park incidents, House Freedom Caucus proposals on term limits and stock trading, and a satirical Trump statue on the National Mall.
Midterm Elections Live Updates: After Democratic Sweep, Victorious Candidates Discuss What Comes Nextnytimes.com· 6d
The New York Times live blog follows the 2026 midterms after a Democratic sweep, with victorious candidates set for the Sunday shows, prominent Republicans absent amid blame-trading, and Democrats having won Senate seats in traditionally red states including Kansas, Iowa and Texas. It also tracks the tight Mississippi Senate race, where Democrat Scott Colom leads Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by roughly 2,600 votes as provisional ballots are disputed, and reviews the campaign's most notable ads.
Fetterman to get filibuster backup with new crop of Senate Demswashingtonexaminer.com· 7d
The Washington Examiner reports that Sen. John Fetterman will not stand alone in defending the filibuster, though a review finds nine of 11 incoming Democratic senators back reforming or abolishing it, with pastor Adam Hamilton and Roy Cooper likely outliers as Chuck Schumer weighs a rule change with at least 54 caucus votes.
Philadelphia doesn’t have to honor ICE jail detainers, federal judge rulesA federal judge has ruled that Philadelphia need not honor ICE jail detainers or work with federal immigration agents, having found in July that the city cannot unmask ICE agents. The Inquirer roundup also reports a 60,000-gallon jet fuel spill in Upper Merion, Comcast layoffs, Fetterman scrutiny, and Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer surgery.
El-Sayed’s swing state win puts to bed the conventional wisdom about ‘electability’ and Israeltherealnews.com· 9d
Adam Johnson, in an opinion article for The Real News Network, argues that Abdul El-Sayed's 7-point, roughly 340,000-vote win in Michigan's 2026 US Senate race disproves the conventional wisdom that a strong Israel critic is unelectable, after attacks from figures including Nancy Pelosi, Jim Clyburn, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Citing exit polls, Johnson contends narratives that El-Sayed struggled with Black and Jewish voters were bogus, and predicts party elites and mainstream media will downplay the victory heading into the 2028 primary.
Democrats Would Be Insane Not to Break With Israel Nowthenation.com· 9d
In a Nation opinion piece, Hamid Bendaas argues the Democrats' 2026 midterm sweep — taking the Senate and House — hands them a mandate to break with Israel, urging them to strip Israeli weapons provisions from the defense bill, cut military funding, and bring up the Block the Bombs Act. Citing JD Vance's own postelection admission, Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan win over record AIPAC spending, and polls showing voters back blocking bombs, he says unyielding support for Israel is electoral poison.
Voters Just Changed the Trajectory of the Supreme Courtnewrepublic.com· 9d
Matt Ford's New Republic article argues the 2026 midterms reshaped the Supreme Court's future, with Democrats taking firm Senate control through wins including Sherrod Brown's Ohio victory and Nathan Johnson's Texas attorney general win, which Ford calls perhaps the night's most consequential downballot result. He forecasts Democrats will invoke the Garland precedent to refuse conservative court nominees, and says the results make it significantly more likely the court will not get younger or more conservative until 2032 at the earliest.
