A D.C.-based news outlet reported this week that former Rep. Susan Wild, who represented the Lehigh Valley in Congress before narrowly losing to now Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in 2024, is weighing a primary challenge against Sen. John Fetterman in 2028.<\/p>\n
Semafor, a political news source, reported this week that Wild is weighing a challenge to Fetterman<\/a> \u201caccording to a person familiar with her thinking who told Semafor she\u2019s getting encouraged to run.\u201d<\/p>\n The news comes as opposition to Fetterman grows within his own party \u2014 Fetterman has broken with Democrats on several key votes, including casting the deciding vote to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Department of Homeland Security secretary this week and siding with the GOP to end a government shutdown last year.<\/p>\n Last week, Fetterman publicly attacked fellow Democrats, alleging the party is controlled by \u201cTrump Derangement Syndrome\u201d \u2014 an insult more commonly used by Trump allies to describe his critics. However, he has publicly denied that he is considering switching parties.<\/p>\n According to a Quinnipiac poll released last month,<\/a> 62% of Pennsylvania Democrats disapprove of Fetterman, though he maintains a net-positive 46% approval approval rating (compared to 40% disapproval) among all Pennsylvania registered voters.<\/p>\n In a written statement to The Morning Call, Wild confirmed that she has been approached by \u201ca number of people\u201d encouraging her to run.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing is off the table, but it\u2019s worth noting that I\u2019m involved in a number of very interesting things right now and am very content,\u201d Wild said. \u201cIt is time, however, for PA to finally elect a woman to the US Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n Wild is an outspoken Fetterman critic. On March 20, she wrote on the social media platform X<\/a>: \u201cSuch a disappointment. PA deserves better. People worked so hard for Fetterman and he kicked them in the teeth. On to 2028 when we elect a real Dem.\u201d<\/p>\n Wild is not the only Democrat weighing a challenge to Fetterman as inter-party discontent with him mounts.<\/p>\n