A former Democratic congresswoman is the latest name being touted as a possible primary challenger to Sen. John Fetterman.
The news site Semafor reported recently that former Lehigh Valley Rep. Susan Wild is pondering entering the 2028 Senate primary as Democrats become increasingly frustrated and angry over Fetterman’s continued support for President Donald Trump’s unpopular policies, controversial nominees and his constant criticism of the party.
Fetterman’s staunch support for Israel’s Gaza offensive and Trump’s war with Iran have turned off many Democrats as have his votes for Kristi Noem for Homeland Security secretary last year (before he called for her firing in January) and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as well as his vote against a war powers resolution that would have restrained Trump’s actions in Iran.
A Quinnipiac University poll released last month showed that 62% of Pennsylvania Democrats disapproved of Fetterman compared to 73% of Republicans who approved of him.
Last week, Fetterman again jabbed his own party by claiming there is no Democratic leader and the party is controlled by “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” an insult usually lobbed by Trump supporters at his critics.
Fetterman has steadfastly maintained that he will not switch parties.
Democrats were rankled that Fetterman was the deciding vote to move now-former Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to replace Noem as Homeland Security secretary out of a Senate committee and to a floor vote.
The measure advancing Mullin’s nomination passed 8-7 with Fetterman joining Republicans and GOP Sen. Rand Paul voting with Democrats against it.
After that, Fetterman, who frequently refers to himself as a “committed Democrat,” and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich were the only Senate Democrats to vote to confirm Mullin as Homeland Security secretary on Monday.
“Such a disappointment. PA deserves better,” Wild wrote on X. “People worked so hard for. Fetterman and he kicked them in the teeth. On to 2028 when we elected a real Dem.”
Wild represented the 7th Congressional District from 2018 to 2025. She left the House after losing to GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie by 1 percentage point in the 2024 election.
Another possible primary challenger to Fetterman, Philadelphia-area U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, does not shy away from criticizing the senator and he spoke out following the vote to move Mullin’s nomination out of committee.
“Once again Sen Fetterman shows why he is Trump’s favorite Democrat,” Boyle wrote in an X post. “He needs to go.”
Boyle told Semafor that he is concentrating on helping Democrats take the House back this year and becoming chairman of the House Budget Committee.
“As for 2028, I don’t rule anything out,” he said.
Former Pittsburgh-area Rep. Conor Lamb has also been talked up as a possible 2028 primary candidate after unsuccessfully running against Fetterman in the 2022 Senate primary.
Lamb, a Marine Corps veteran and former federal prosecutor, has toured the state holding rallies and town halls, and posting videos on social media criticizing Trump’s war with Iran and Fetterman’s support for it.
However, Lamb has said he is not thinking about 2028 and recently told PennLive that he is focused on helping Democrats get elected in this year’s midterm elections.
Axios reported last fall on potential challengers to Fetterman and included Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Naval Academy graduate who represents Lamb’s old district that covers Beaver County and a big portion of Allegheny County.
