Sen. John Fetterman is facing his first Democratic primary challenger for 2028, and the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s outspoken support for Israel is already taking center stage in what could become a bitter fight over the future of the Democratic Party.
Ahmed Moor, a 42-year-old Palestinian American businessman and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, announced Monday that he is running for Fetterman’s Senate seat.
Moor, who was born in Gaza and now lives in Philadelphia, is launching a progressive campaign centered on cutting American military assistance to Israel, imposing economic sanctions and expanding federal government programs.
The announcement sets up a sharp ideological clash with Fetterman, who has repeatedly broken with his party’s progressive wing to defend Israel and support certain policies advanced by President Donald Trump.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Moor wants the United States to end military assistance to Israel and impose sanctions modeled after those used against apartheid-era South Africa.
He suggested that Congress could largely replicate the legislation adopted during the 1980s.
“We just need to copy and paste the legislation,” Moor said.
🚨 JUST IN: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has just been PRIMARY CHALLENGED for 2028 by Gaza-born DSA member Ahmed Moor
Imagine that…an invader from RAFAH 🤯
His platform:
– Cut off U.S. military aid to Israel
– Impose South Africa-style apartheid sanctions on Israel: “We just need to copy and paste the legislation”
– Medicare for All
– Universal free childcare
– A nationwide billionaire wealth tax“We need to do away with the idea that Israel is a place where Jews have superior rights relative to Palestinians.”
“As Americans, we’re deeply implicated in Israeli apartheid. We fund it. We sustain it. We protect it.”
He joined DSA after Oct. 7 and hired a finance director who worked for Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush ‼️
He names Zohran Mamdani and Abdul El Sayed as his inspirations!
DO NOT LET HIM WIN.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 9, 2026
The Democratic challenger also accused the United States of enabling what he considers discriminatory policies against Palestinians.
“We need to do away with the idea that Israel is a place where Jews have superior rights relative to Palestinians.”
Moor went further in criticizing America’s relationship with the Jewish state.
“As Americans, we’re deeply implicated in Israeli apartheid. We fund it. We sustain it. We protect it.”
His positions represent a direct challenge to Fetterman’s approach to foreign policy, particularly following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.
John Fetterman has consistently defended Israel’s right to respond militarily and criticized members of his own party who have embraced increasingly hostile positions toward the country.
The Pennsylvania Democrat has also warned that he could leave the party if opposing Israel becomes an official Democratic position.
Moor, meanwhile, joined the Democratic Socialists of America following the October 2023 attacks and has aligned himself with the organization’s progressive political movement.
His campaign extends far beyond foreign policy.
The political newcomer supports Medicare for All, universal taxpayer-funded childcare and a nationwide wealth tax targeting billionaires.
He has also called for sweeping changes to government accountability and greater restrictions on corporate influence in Washington.
Moor has identified New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed as political inspirations, pointing to the growing influence of democratic socialists within the Democratic Party.
His campaign has already recruited Rasha Mubarak, a finance director who previously worked with Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri.
Neither lawmaker has been shy about criticizing Israel’s military operations, making their political networks potentially significant to Moor’s campaign.
Despite his ambitious platform, Moor faces the challenge of building a statewide operation without previous experience holding elected office.
The Philadelphia resident has worked in international development and business but has never mounted a major political campaign.
Fetterman, meanwhile, has not announced whether he intends to seek another six-year term.
The incumbent’s relationship with Pennsylvania Democrats has become increasingly strained as he continues defending Israel, criticizing democratic socialism and occasionally siding with Republicans on major legislative disputes.
Those disagreements have fueled speculation about a possible primary challenge for months.
Now, Moor has become the first candidate to formally enter the 2028 contest for Fetterman’s seat.
His candidacy comes less than a week after Democrats secured major victories in the midterm elections, giving the party’s progressive wing renewed attention heading into the next presidential election cycle.
