Gaza-Born Writer Ahmed Moor Files to Challenge Sen. John Fetterman in Pennsylvania’s 2028 Primary

Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American writer born in Gaza, on Monday, Nov. 9, became the first declared candidate for Sen. John Fetterman’s seat in Pennsylvania, launching a 2028 Democratic primary campaign that stakes out the opposite of Fetterman’s position on Israel. Moor filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, naming “Moor for Senate” as his campaign committee for the 2028 election.

“The truth is, I’m not really running against Fetterman,” Moor, 42, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’m running for good government. I’m running for the rule of law. I’m running because I believe in America.” Fetterman has not said whether he will seek a second term.

Who is Ahmed Moor?

Moor was born in Rafah, in southern Gaza, and moved to Philadelphia as a child when his father worked for the American Friends Service Committee, the Inquirer reported. He graduated from Roxborough High School and the University of Pennsylvania and earned a master’s in public policy from Harvard. He worked at Swiss Re Capital Markets in New York, covered the 2011 Egyptian revolution as a freelancer for the Guardian and other outlets, and spent eight years in Jordan running a venture-backed lending business for small firms. He returned to West Philadelphia five years ago and has never held elected office beyond a recent stint as a Democratic committeeperson.

After the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Moor joined the Philadelphia chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the Inquirer reported. He supports withdrawing U.S. military aid to Israel and imposing sanctions modeled on the 1986 Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act until Palestinians “have equal rights in that country.” “We just need to copy and paste the legislation,” he said.

His wider platform includes universal free childcare, Medicare for All, a national billionaire wealth tax and anti-corruption measures. He said he has “no faith” in Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer or House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Why Fetterman looks vulnerable

Fetterman has angered many Democrats by sometimes siding with Republicans and speaking in support of President Donald Trump, who has called him “a great guy,” the Guardian reported. He has said he would leave the party if it adopted an “anti-Israel” platform: “That’s my red line,” he said in July. The Inquirer reported he has met more often with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.

Democrats’ midterm gains also change the math. The party won at least 54 Senate seats last week, the Guardian reported, which means Fetterman’s vote is less likely to be decisive. “If it would have been 51 to 49, it would have mattered. But it doesn’t matter now,” said Mike Weidinger, a veteran Lancaster County Democrat. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, are forcing a meeting before their leadership vote after their losses.

An uphill race

Moor acknowledged an “uphill battle.” Pennsylvania voters tend to favor centrists statewide, and a September Inquirer/New York Times/Siena poll found 56% of likely voters viewed socialism unfavorably, while 57% of Democrats said they did not consider themselves democratic socialists, the Inquirer reported. Other Democrats are weighing runs, including Rep. Chris Deluzio of the Pittsburgh area, and Weidinger also named state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta as a possible candidate. Rep. Brendan Boyle said he would stay in the House.

Moor has hired finance director Rasha Mubarak, who worked for Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, and plans a launch event in Philadelphia next week. For context on the electorate, about 7 in 10 voters under 30 backed Democrats for the House, an AP voter poll found. Follow the new Senate on our U.S. Senate tracker.

Sources

• Philadelphia Inquirer: Ahmed Moor, a Gaza-born Philadelphian, is John Fetterman’s first 2028 challenger
• The Guardian: John Fetterman to be challenged for Senate seat by democratic socialist born in Gaza
• FEC: Ahmed Moor Statement of Candidacy (Form 2), Nov. 9, 2026