Ahmed Moor launched a 2028 campaign on Monday to challenge John Fetterman for his U.S. Senate seat, becoming the first candidate to enter the race. The 42-year-old Palestinian American writer filed with the Federal Election Commission and said he plans to take his message to all 67 counties.
Moor described the race as an uphill battle, but he also said, “The truth is, I’m not really running against Fetterman.” He added: “I’m running for good government. I’m running for the rule of law. I’m running because I believe in America. And I believe in our capacity for renewal. I believe in our capacity for redressing wrongs in our midst.”
Ahmed Moor in West Philadelphia
Moor lives in West Philadelphia and has never held or run for political office aside from a recent stint as a committeeperson within the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee. He was born in Rafah and moved to Philadelphia with his family when he was a child, after his father worked for the American Friends Service Committee. The family later moved back to the region in Ramallah.
He is entering the campaign unusually early. The article says the end of the 2026 midterms last week marked the unofficial start of the 2028 election cycle, giving Moor time to build support before the race hardens around a field of challengers.
John Fetterman and Democratic challengers
Fetterman has not said whether he will seek a second six-year term, and several Democrats have openly weighed campaigns against him. Moor said his campaign is shaped by his opposition to Fetterman’s views on Israel and the war in Gaza, but he is also trying to build beyond that issue by organizing in every county.
Rasha Mubarak is serving as Moor’s finance director. She has worked on the campaigns of Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, giving Moor an aide with experience on other Democratic campaigns centered on similar themes.
Moor will host a launch event at Renata’s Kitchen next week. Brendan Boyle said Wednesday he would remain in the House as chairman of the Budget Committee, while Chris Deluzio of Allegheny County has cultivated a statewide network as he considers jumping in the race. Moor’s opening gives Democratic voters their first declared 2028 choice against Fetterman, and it sets the terms of the early contest before the senator decides whether to run again.
