Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania said Tuesday that she is considering a primary challenge to Senator John Fetterman in 2028, adding her name to a growing list of Democrats weighing bids against the incumbent.
In an interview with Politico, Dean said she has been concerned about Fetterman's health and family situation, and she expressed disappointment with his performance in the Senate. “I'm going to be considering it,” she said. “I have been concerned about, really, two things, which is his family and his health … and am very disappointed in his activity as a senator and in his votes.”
Dean did not give a timeline for a decision, saying she would first discuss a potential campaign with her family. If she runs, it would set up a rematch of sorts: Dean briefly ran against Fetterman in the 2018 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor on then-Governor Tom Wolf's ticket before dropping out to run for Congress.
Her comments come a day after Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American writer and businessperson from Philadelphia, became the first Democrat to formally launch a 2028 challenge against Fetterman. Moor, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is campaigning on ending the Iran war and expanding access to health care, child care, and affordable housing.
Representative Chris Deluzio, also of Pennsylvania, has said he is giving a potential Senate run “serious thought.” The growing primary pressure reflects broader dissatisfaction among Democrats with Fetterman's policy positions, particularly his support for the Iran war and his staunch backing of Israel. He has also drawn criticism for his willingness to break with his party on key votes, and in September he appeared by video at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, where he introduced Senator Dave McCormick as a “great friend.”
Despite the speculation, Fetterman has repeatedly insisted he will remain a Democrat. “I've said I have no path as a Republican. That's a fact,” he said during an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival in September. He has not said publicly whether he intends to seek reelection in 2028.
The brewing primary battle comes as Democrats are also focusing on other policy battles, including credit card debt relief and drug pricing transparency. The party's internal divisions over foreign policy and political strategy are likely to be a central theme in the coming years.
As the 2028 cycle approaches, the question of whether Fetterman will face a serious primary challenge—and whether Dean or others will force him to defend his record—remains open. For now, Dean's comments signal that the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is far from united behind its sitting senator.
