The way in which Eddie Markey seems at it, it’s one down and two to go.
Now that U.S Rep. Jake Auchincloss has determined in opposition to difficult Markey for reelection to the U.S. Senate, that leaves solely U.S. reps Seth Moulton of Salem and Ayanna Pressley of Boston for Markey to fret about.
Auchincloss, 37, of Newton, who holds the Home seat beforehand held by Joe Kennedy III, introduced final week that he wouldn’t problem Markey within the 2026 Democratic major.
Auchincloss gained the Home seat held by Kennedy after Kennedy gave it as much as run in opposition to Markey within the 2020 Senate Democrat major, solely to be soundly overwhelmed.
Whereas Auchincloss pulled out of the race in opposition to Markey — a contest he by no means formally entered it within the first place — no such announcement was forthcoming from both Moulton or Pressley, each of whom would search to problem Markey in the event that they thought they may win.
Markey, 79, is looking for reelection to a 3rd time period. He has been in Washington as a member of the Home after which the Senate for nearly 50 years. He might be 80 in 2026.
Nonetheless, Markey is the one politician to beat Kennedy in Massachusetts, which is meals for thought for any challenger.
Whereas Auchincloss dropped his potential candidacy, he declined to endorse Markey. “We’re greater than a 12 months out” earlier than the election, he instructed the Globe, and something may occur.
“I’m not working in opposition to him, so I’m not going to forged stones in opposition to him,” Auchincloss mentioned.
Markey thus far has no Republican opposition. The one Democrat working in opposition to him is Alex Rikleen of Acton, a political newcomer.
Whereas the Auchincloss information was welcomed by Markey, he nonetheless faces a potential problem — distant as it’s — from Moulton or Pressley.
They, like Kennedy earlier than them, must hand over a protected Home seat to make a Democratic major run in opposition to Markey.
Six of the 9 Massachusetts members of Congress, all Democrats, have endorsed Markey, however Moulton and Pressley, like Auchincloss, haven’t.
It’s as if the three are on standby within the occasion, for one cause or one other, Markey decides to pack it in.
Nevertheless, there aren’t any indicators of that, regardless of his age. Whereas he maintains a voting handle in Malden, the place he grew up, he lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Washington is his life.
However, whoever runs in opposition to Markey faces an enormous problem. Markey is a well-financed, seasoned campaigner who is aware of tips on how to win. And his vitality on the marketing campaign path belies his age, which is enforced by his mantra, “It’s not your age, it’s the age of your concepts.”
Apart from showing as potential Markey challengers, Moulton and Pressley additionally attracted consideration to themselves once they voted in opposition to the Home decision honoring “the life and legacy” of the murdered Charlie Kirk.
Maybe they see it as a difficulty they will use in a major marketing campaign subject in leftist Massachusetts.
Whereas seven of the state’s 9 members of the Home voted for it, Moulton and Pressley, mean-spirited critics of Kirk, joined the 58 Democrats who voted in opposition to it.
In doing so, they joined in with leftist radicals Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jasmine Crockett, and Maxine Waters.
The Republican managed Home, with the votes of 95 Democrats, authorized the decision anyway.
Nevertheless, this didn’t cease Moulton and Pressley from persevering with their heartless assaults on Kirk on the eve of his extraordinary memorial service on Sunday, and earlier than he was even buried.
Moulton, as merciless and insensitive as he may very well be, accused the assassinated Kirk of creating jokes “about political assassinations,” “ridiculing” Democrat survivors of violence like Paul Pelosi, and spreading “racist conspiracies, and “demeaning” Muslims and homosexual People.
Pressley mentioned the decision “glorified right-wing extremist rhetoric and lionized somebody who promoted shameful, bigoted concepts” that canonized the vilification and dehumanization of Black folks, immigrants and LGBTQIA+ siblings.”
Aside from that, they supplied their condolences to the Kirk household.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas may be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonerald.com
Matt Stone/Boston Herald
Salem Rep. Seth Moulton (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
