Pennsylvania Democratic lawmaker opts out of challenging Fetterman in Senate in 2028

Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle, who just won re-election Tuesday night, announced Wednesday that he has decided not to challenge Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman for his Senate seat in 2028.

Boyle declared that he will serve as the chairman of the House Budget Committee now that Democrats have won control of the chamber and therefore, he is much more influential as a committee chairman rather than as a freshman senator.

The Democrat won reelection in the Philadelphia district with 80.7% of the vote, compared to his challenger's 19.2%.

“For months, many of my supporters have urged me to consider running for US Senate in 2028,” he wrote in a post on Facebook. “I have always said that after the November 2026 election, I would make a decision based on one simple question: where can I have the biggest impact on public policy?

“After months of consulting many people, including current senators and past committee chairs, it is quite clear that I can have a much bigger impact as House Budget Committee Chairman than as a freshman member of the Senate,” he continued. “Therefore, I will not be running for the Senate.“

Boyle said he plans to use his position to “finally get this nation’s fiscal health back on track,” “bring more resources back home” and “fight for economic policies that finally help working Americans." 

The lawmaker is serving as the ranking member of the House Budget Committee while Republicans hold the majority.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.