Fetterman welcomes ’28 primary challenge; ‘always going to put our country before party’
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman says he welcomes a primary challenger in 2028 in a wide-ranging interview on Fox News on Friday.
Speaking to Martha MacCallum on “The Story,” Fetterman also gave plaudits to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for meeting with President Donald Trump, explained why he voted to halt the federal government shutdown, and discussed his ability to carry “the kind of states that determine who’s going to be the next president.”
When asked about the announcement from the Pennsylvania Working Families Party that it would support a primary challenge to Fetterman in 2028, he did not back away from the prospect.
“I hope so because I guarantee whoever they put up, they’re going to just make me look the reasonable guy that’s going to work with both sides together and find a way for Pennsylvania,” said Fetterman.
“And now it’s an absolute lie. Voting to keep our government open, that was a vote to make sure that 42 million Americans get their SNAP. And now we’re going to pay all these people, like the military and the Capitol Police and all of those folks now, too,” he added. “So now if they want to primary me … but my point, it’s like I’ve been on the side of common sense and I’ve always gonna put our country before party. And I think most people now realize that shutting our government down was wrong.”
Shoshanna Israel, the group’s Mid-Atlantic political director, severely criticized Fetterman’s decision to go across party lines, stating that he “sold out” the working Pennsylvanians and did not pick up the fight for the progressive priorities.
The former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor defeated fellow Keystone State Sen. Dave McCormick and WFP candidate Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta in the 2022 Democratic primary before downing TV doctor Mehmet Oz in the general election.
Fetterman responded to criticism over his vote to reopen the federal government along with seven other Democratic lawmakers.
“I have been on the side of common sense, and I am always going to put our country before party,” he said, “and I think most people now realize that shutting our government down was wrong.
Fetterman also said that he felt he has some common ground with Mamdani, whom he credited for meeting with the president.
“We both agree that it’s reasonable to meet with the President if they invite to sit down and talk to them,” he said. “And I think what’s different is that I haven’t seen a lot of blowback for Mandami to do this, but I got a lot. And I think it’s perfectly reasonable to sit down and have this conversation. And that’s what I’ve done back in January.
“As a senator that represents one of the biggest states in the country, it’s a normal conversation,” he said. “And then I don’t why there’s part of my party say that you’re not allowed to have that talk to him or do these things. And that’s crazy.”
Fetterman remainded MacCallum that he and fellow Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have “carried the kind of states that determine who’s going to be the next president … those are the kind of states that keep us honest and are a reminder that there are both sides.”
MacCallum also asked Fetterman could peel off votes from working class voters who have gone over to the Trump side if he were to run for the presidency.
“The kinds of values and the kinds of perspectives to carry a state like Pennsylvania … I do think I’m very compatible,” he said. “In increasingly polarized times, I just want to be normal and I just want to have a common sense thing.”
Steve Ulrich is managing editor of Politics PA.
