Pennsylvania’s senior senator, John Fetterman, is making waves with his unorthodox political maneuvers, often aligning himself with former President Donald Trump, a move that defies the typical Democratic playbook.

This maverick strategy might set the stage for a significant primary battle in 2028, when Fetterman is up for re-election. Speculation is mounting that he could face formidable opposition from within his own party, as names like Congressmen Brendan Boyle, Chris Deluzio, and former Representative Conor Lamb are being touted as possible contenders, as reported by Axios.

In response to inquiries from an Axios journalist about these potential rivals, Fetterman brushed off the speculation with a quip, calling it ‘clickbait’ and humorously requesting, ‘Please do not contact.’

Despite this, it seems Fetterman remains unfazed by the prospect of a primary challenge. As insiders revealed to Axios, he harbors ambitions beyond the Senate, with aspirations potentially reaching as high as the presidency.

Fetterman may not be spooked by a potential challenger, because as Axios also notes that he ‘has long held presidential ambitions, according to people who know him.’

During a Fox News appearance this past Sunday, Fetterman told Sunday Morning Futures anchor Maria Bartiromo that he felt ‘absolute elation,’ over the peace deal orchestrated by the president last week between Israel and Hamas.

Fetterman also noted that legislating and speaking in the Senate based on his political views which don’t fall in line with most of his Democrat colleagues has ‘been very isolating.’

Regardless of what ‘the base might want … I think it’s the right thing … my kinds of positions are reasonable, because I’m not going to follow just the party line. I’m going to think, hey, independently,’ Fetterman also told Bartiromo.

U.S. Senator John Fetterman during the sixth installment of The Senate Project moderated by FOX NEWS anchor Shannon Bream at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on June 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts

Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris takes a selfie with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and his wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman (R) after greeting supporters at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria Airport on September 13, 2024 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., left, and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., right, display hoodies presented by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate after participating in a debate Monday, June 2, 2025, at the at the institute, Monday, June 2, 2025, in Boston

Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, arrives for a campaign event with US Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Democratic vice-presidential nominee, not pictured, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024

Fetterman has been unafraid of bucking his party’s status quo during his tenure in Congress, and another a wide-ranging conversation with CNN’s Manu Raju shared last month was no exception.

At the time, Fetterman touched on many issues plaguing his party, including their very vocal opposition to Trump, which has included comparing him to the former dictator of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler.

‘I think you just don’t ever, ever compare anyone to Hitler and those kinds of extreme things,’ Fetterman noted, also adding that Trump was ‘not an autocrat.’

‘Now, look what happened to Charlie Kirk. I mean, you know, the man was shot. Now, we have to turn the temperature down,’ the Pennsylvania senator added, referencing the assassination of the Turning Point USA founder and conservative activist who was killed last month during a speaking tour stop at Utah Valley University.

‘We can’t compare people to these kinds of figures in history. And this is not an autocrat. This is a product of a democratic election,’ Fetterman added.

On a DailyMail+ Power List of top Democrats released this summer, Fetterman was the second most popular person, coming seventh right behind Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who ranked sixth.

The top five names on the Democrat list were all celebrities. 

Fetterman is additionally butting heads with top leaders in his party over the ongoing federal government shutdown. 

He was one of three non-Republicans to vote for the GOP’s funding package before the shutdown and has not shied away from pointing the finger at fellow Democrats for the shutdown.

‘Shutting the government is really what the Democratic Party wants to do… [Obamacare subsidies were] designed by the Democratic Party to expire … This is not something taken by the Republicans,’ Fetterman shared during a NewsNation town hall that took place at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday. 

Fetterman won his 2022 general election against Mehmet Oz with 51.17 percent of the vote after beating Lamb by over a 2:1 margin, raking in 58.6 percent of the vote to Lamb’s 26.3 percent.

Asked by reporter Tara Palmeri about his party’s ability to win back White men like himself, Fetterman shared that the prognosis was weak.

‘I don’t know. And truthfully, I’m not sure if that’s possible, to be honest,’ Fetterman replied.