Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman did not rule out a 2028 presidential run during a Wednesday podcast with political analyst Chuck Todd.
A Washington Post analysis from January this year listed Fetterman as one of “12 Democrats who make the most sense for 2028,” citing his independence within the Democratic Party. When Todd pressed Fetterman on “The Chuck ToddCast” about whether he would run for the White House, the senator indicated he was unsure about whether he was paving the way for another independent-minded Democrat or considering his own bid. (RELATED: Tim Walz Appears To Snipe At Any Kamala Harris 2028 Ambitions)
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“I know we’re wrapping up, so I’m going to make you answer the ’28 question,” Todd said. “What would it take to get you to run for president?”
“I am focusing right now on just the burgeoning kinds of chaos and trying to find a balance and find a way forward,” Fetterman replied. “And, you know, doing things that I know that will anger parts of my base. I hope that there is room in my party for someone who wants that kind of truth.”
Todd pressed further, asking if Fetterman was attempting to “plow a path forward for somebody like that” or if he wanted to “take the path” himself.
“I don’t know,” Fetterman responded before Todd cut him off, noting the senator was “not saying no” to a potential run.
“I’m not afraid of being honest. And now if there is going to be blowback or I’m punished, I get that. But for me, I think it’s more important to be honest and to describe the danger of where we possibly are at,” Fetterman responded. “And we have to stop and think before we make another significant mistake that’s even more and more difficult to come back from.”
Todd told the senator he would mark Fetterman “as not a no for ’28.”
“What I’m saying is that there will be a 2028,” the senator responded.
Fetterman has differentiated himself from others in his party, including by becoming the first sitting Democratic Senator known to have visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence after the November election. He has also clashed with his party on issues pertaining to Israel since its war with Hamas started on Oct. 7, 2023.
Others considered to be potential Democratic 2028 contenders include failed 2024 candidates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and a handful of Democratic governors — Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Wes Moore of Maryland. Polling generally suggests that Democrats are by far most interested in seeing Harris become the party’s nominee again, followed distantly by Buttigieg and Newsom, according to Newsweek.
Todd on Sunday recommended Harris not pursue political office for the next several years.
“If I were advising her, I’d tell her: go throw yourself into the rebuild of LA and get involved with the LA Olympic Committee,” he said. “Be above politics for a couple of years and come back maybe in 2030 or 2032.”
Moreover, political analyst Mark Halperin suggested in March that Buttigieg’s status as a “short and gay” man could impede his chances of securing the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also cast doubt on Newsom’s 2028 viability, citing California’s struggles under his leadership, including “homelessness,” “crime” and “cost of living.”
Political strategists told the Daily Caller News Foundation in March that they are not confident that such Democrats have the capability to unite the party and retake the White House.
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