{"id":176833,"date":"2026-04-26T22:08:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T22:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/176833\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T22:08:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T22:08:29","slug":"will-john-fetterman-run-in-2028-pennsylvania-democrats-offer-no-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/176833\/","title":{"rendered":"Will John Fetterman run in 2028? Pennsylvania Democrats offer no support"},"content":{"rendered":"

A possible reelection campaign from Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman<\/a> won’t happen this year, but already, some Democrat colleagues are on the fence about a second run from the state’s former lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n

In a report by Punchbowl News, Pennsylvania Democrats wouldn’t throw their support behind another run by Fetterman, though none would outright condemn a possible reelection campaign.<\/p>\n

Their concerns, they said, centered on actions that have led many to believe Fetterman will switch to the Republican Party, as well as the health problems he’s faced since taking office in 2023, which have included auditory processing issues following his 2022 stroke, depression and several heart conditions.<\/p>\n

What do Democrats think about another run by Fetterman?<\/p>\n

When Punchbowl News<\/a> asked Pennsylvania Democrats on Capitol Hill about Fetterman, none offered their support, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n

“My focus right now is on 2026, but I would just say I\u2019d be very surprised if he ran in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate,” said Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), who is rumored to be eyeing a Senate bid in 2028.<\/p>\n

Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) is also reportedly looking at a 2028 Senate run. He and Fetterman have “serious disagreements” about the war in Iran, he said, and added that “2028 is still a way off.”<\/p>\n

“We\u2019ll see what comes after \u201826,” Deluzio said.<\/p>\n

Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) said it’s “up to him” when asked if he should run for reelection as a Democrat.<\/p>\n

“At his own peril,” Lee added.<\/p>\n

“My concern is entirely about him and his health, and I\u2019ll let 2028 take care of itself,” said Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA). “I disagree with many of his votes.”<\/p>\n

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) said it’s “no secret” that she’s been “disappointed” and “confused” by some of his votes.<\/p>\n

“But I\u2019m not responsible for deciding whether he runs again,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m getting through 2026 first. I am not weighing 2028 now,” Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) said. “I\u2019ll hold my tongue so I don\u2019t get in trouble.”<\/p>\n

When asked about Fetterman’s future, Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) said, “The voters will decide that.”<\/p>\n

What issues do Fetterman, Democrats clash on?<\/p>\n

Since his election, Fetterman has clashed with Democrats on a number of wide-ranging issues.<\/p>\n

Since 2023, he’s assumed a hard-line stance in his support for Israel, particularly in relation to Israel’s military action in Gaza, as compared to other Democrats, according to The Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In March of this year, he voted to confirm Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Most of the Democrats in the upper chamber did not back Mullin.<\/p>\n

The same month, he said on the “All-in” podcast that the Democratic Party was “governed” by “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” or TDS, The Hill<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

“I think, I think the TDS that \u2014 I think that\u2019s the leader right now. You know, right now our party, is, is governed by the TDS,” he said.<\/p>\n

How did Fetterman perform in Allegheny County in 2022?<\/p>\n

Fetterman comfortably coasted in Allegheny County on Election Night 2022. He recorded 363,873 votes (63.4%) while Republican challenger Dr. Mehmet Oz received 200,672 (34.9%), according to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania election results<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The votes from the Pittsburgh area and Allegheny County were more than 13.2% of Fetterman’s 2,751,012 total votes in 2022.<\/p>\n

Has Fetterman become a Republican?<\/p>\n

Fetterman ran in 2022 as a Democrat and has denied that he will become a Republican. But his votes in favor of President Donald Trump<\/a>‘s cabinet picks, public criticism of Democrats and repeat appearances on Fox News have contributed to speculation that he may switch parties, Punchbowl News reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The speculation has led Pennsylvania’s GOP Chair Senator Greg Rothman to monitor Fetterman to see if he’ll jump ship, according to The Patriot-News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re still trying to wrestle with what happens if John Fetterman switched party and becomes a Republican,” Rothman said on April 11.<\/p>\n

How has Fetterman voted since becoming senator?<\/p>\n

Fetterman remains an ideological Democrat based on GovTrack’s Ideology-Leadership Chart<\/a>, which shows several Democratic senators who are ideologically closer to the Republican party.<\/p>\n

However, Fetterman was one of only two Democratic senators who voted to confirm at least 50% of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees in 2025, according to Ballotpedia<\/a>. He voted to confirm 12 of the 23 candidates.<\/p>\n

How does Fetterman score with Republicans?<\/p>\n

A February Quinnipiac University poll showed that 46% of Pennsylvania voters approve of Fetterman’s performance, with 40% disapproving, Punchbowl News reported. He’s up 74%\u201318% among Republicans, while among Democrats, he’s down 62%\u201322%.<\/p>\n

In March, Fetterman told Chris Cuomo on NewsNation that his popularity with Republicans is confusing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI, for some strange way, I am more popular with Republicans, which is, it\u2019s confusing because I vote, I vote in the 90s (percentage-wise) Dem line, and I didn\u2019t, and I haven\u2019t [voted] for the big ticket Trump ones like \u2018big, beautiful bill\u2019 or SAVE Act, and for those things,” Fetterman told Cuomo, as reported by The Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“So, I mean, there\u2019s a lot of misinformation, I guess, but I am guilty of being a very proud supporter of Israel, and then I do support (Operation) Epic Fury,” he added.<\/p>\n

What health issues does Fetterman face?<\/p>\n

Democrats and staffers have expressed concerns about Fetterman’s health since his election.<\/p>\n

Fetterman suffered a stroke on May 13, 2022 just before winning the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat, The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a> reported. The stroke was a result of atrial fibrillation, which he was diagnosed with in 2017.<\/p>\n

Fetterman also suffers from cardiomyopathy. Doctors implanted a defibrillator to treat the condition following his stroke. He also suffers from ventricular fibrillation, which caused a fall in November 2025.<\/p>\n

He also deals with depression, which he was hospitalized for in early 2023, and auditory processing issues as a result of his stroke.<\/p>\n

When is Fetterman up for reelection?<\/p>\n

Fetterman was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2022, defeating Republican candidate Mehmet Oz in the general election. He’ll be up for reelection in 2028.<\/p>\n

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at\u00a0fwalker@floridatoday.com<\/a>. X:\u00a0@_finchwalker<\/a>. Instagram:\u00a0@finchwalker_<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Disappointed’ PA Dems have no support for Fetterman reelection in ’28<\/a><\/p>\n