Ayanna Pressley’s determination on a U.S. Senate bid subsequent 12 months might reply the query: Is the 51-year-old far left congresswoman too excessive even for deep blue Massachusetts?
Or is there a pathway for Pressley to defeat in style 79-year-old Democratic incumbent Ed Markey and her fellow Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton in a statewide race?
Pressley, who ousted Democratic incumbent Michael Capuano in a 2018 main showdown, might try and turn out to be the primary Black lady ever elected to the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts – an historic feat that might gas her marketing campaign.
However a Senate bid would additionally take a look at her recognition exterior her Boston-area congressional district, together with in additional reasonable voting areas just like the Worcester suburbs, Cape Cod and MetroWest Boston hamlets.
Pressley has a properly deserved popularity as essentially the most far left member of Congress within the Massachusetts delegation. She is likely one of the youthful weapons in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Squad” of Home members.
That may assist her with progressive voters in Boston to the Berkshires however damage her amongst independents, who make up an enormous chunk of the Democratic main voters.
Pressley led the cost of liberal Democrats who slammed her fellow occasion members for voting in assist of a bipartisan deal to reopen the federal authorities.
“It’s a betrayal,” Pressley mentioned of the deal. “It’s deeply disappointing. It’s infuriating.” She additionally known as for Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer to step apart.
Among the many Democrats who voted for the deal have been two New Hampshire senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Maine Sen. Angus King, an unbiased who votes with Democrats.
Pressley additionally was amongst simply two members of the all-Democratic Massachusetts delegation who voted towards a measure to honor the lifetime of assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“This decision glorified proper wing extremist rhetoric and lionized somebody who has promoted shameful, bigoted concepts which have led to deep and lasting hurt,” Pressley mentioned.
Politico was first to report Pressley’s severe curiosity in difficult Markey, quoting 4 nameless individuals who spoke to her.
However there was no report confirming whether or not she has decided.
Pressley must hand over her secure Home seat to make the Senate bid – a consideration that little question will weigh in her determination.
Is she prepared to forfeit her promising political profession for a statewide race she might not win?
A UMass Amherst ballot of Democratic voters confirmed the challenges Pressley faces – attempting to unseat a well-liked Democratic incumbent who 5 years in the past was the primary to defeat a Kennedy in Massachusetts.
Pressley got here in third within the UMass ballot with 21%, behind Moulton with 25% and Markey with 35% amongst a pattern of 416 possible Democratic voters. The ballot has a big margin of error of 6.1% – that means Moulton and Pressley are basically tied for second place.
However these numbers are literally pretty encouraging for Pressley contemplating she has not but introduced a Senate bid and Moulton already has.
Markey getting nearly one third of the vote a 12 months earlier than the election reveals he’s weak.
There may be nonetheless a chance Markey might step apart if he feels Pressley and Moulton are too robust to danger getting the boot from voters as a capstone to his lengthy political profession.
There’s additionally an opportunity Moulton might drop out if Pressley will get in, giving her basically a one-on-one shot at Markey.
If Pressley does get in, it will be a microcosm of the bigger generational wrestle happening within the Democratic Occasion. Various youthful bold Democrats are difficult the outdated occasion stalwarts, saying it’s time for them to step apart for brand new management.
Moulton has bluntly mentioned Markey, who can be 80 by the point the election rolls round, is simply too outdated to proceed serving in Congress – a chief instance of the ageism that’s rampant in America.
