Progressive group to back Fetterman challenger
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Some Democrats are already gearing up to challenge Sen. John Fetterman, and now a nationwide progressive group is making it official.
Why it matters: The Working Families Party (WFP) announced Tuesday it is committing to support a primary challenger to Fetterman when his seat is up in 2028 due to growing frustrations with the Democratic senator's increasing support for President Trump.
Context: WFP is a progressive political group that has run candidates in several states and supported Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania and beyond. The party currently has two members on Philadelphia City Council: Kendra Brooks and Nic O'Rourke.
- The group supports U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) and backed her congressional runs in 2022 and 2024.
What they're saying: WFP mid-Atlantic political director Shoshanna Israel said Fetterman "has sold us out," citing his votes with Republicans on a budget bill that strips health care funding, the GOP's immigration bill, and his vote to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general.
- "The people of Pennsylvania deserve a senator who won't enable Trump or vote with Republicans to rip health care away from over 400,000 of our neighbors. We deserve real working class leadership in the U.S. Senate."
Fetterman's office did not return a request for comment.
Catch up quick: A few candidates have already been rumored to have interest in challenging Fetterman — including Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) and Chris Deluzio (D-Aspinwall) and former Rep. Conor Lamb — Axios' Holly Otterbein reported last month.
Zoom in: WFP is starting to recruit candidates and enlisting campaign volunteers, and will begin fundraising to support a Fetterman challenger, it said in a press release.
- No specific candidate has been backed by WFP yet.
What's next: The group will hold recruitment events across Pennsylvania in the coming months to train candidates and volunteers.