Massachusetts, prepare for a Senate main battle.
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, 46, has introduced that he will probably be difficult U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, 79, subsequent 12 months.
“We’re in a crisis, and with everything we learned last election, I just don’t believe Sen. Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old,” Moulton stated in his announcement video that went stay on Wednesday.
“Even more, I don’t think someone who’s been in Congress for half a century is the right person to meet this moment and win the future,” Moulton added. “Sen. Markey’s a good man, but it’s time for a new generation of leadership. And that’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate.”
Moulton, the Salem Democrat who’s an Iraq Conflict veteran, just isn’t new to attempting to shake up the established order within the celebration. Again in 2014, he defeated longtime U.S. Rep. John Tierney — the primary time in additional than 20 years {that a} Bay State incumbent congressman misplaced.
Moulton entered the nationwide highlight when he challenged Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the 2018 midterms, calling for a brand new era of Democratic management.
Moulton in 2020 campaigned for president. Then after the 2024 election, he was everywhere in the nationwide headlines for blaming his celebration for the Republican pink wave and Donald Trump’s victory — saying that Dems have been “out of touch with the American people,” particularly on transgender points.
Reviews had been saying Moulton was contemplating difficult Markey, and now he’s making it official.
“Democrats have failed to stop Donald Trump’s harmful, racist agenda,” Moulton stated in his announcement video. “Our celebration has clung to the established order, insisted on utilizing the identical previous playbook, and isn’t combating onerous sufficient.
“The next generation will keep paying the costs if we don’t change course,” he added. “This isn’t a fight we can put off for another six years. The future we all believe in is on the line… Real people across Massachusetts are being hurt by Democratic leaders refusing to do everything they can to win. We’ve got to look in the mirror and be honest: It’s time for change.”
A pair weeks in the past, a ballot confirmed that Moulton held a lead over Markey amongst doubtless Democratic voters in Massachusetts. The survey discovered 38% of the 278 Democrats polled would again Moulton in comparison with Markey’s practically 30%.
Markey final 12 months stated he can be operating for a 3rd Senate time period in 2026. Again in 2013, Markey defeated U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in a particular election when John Kerry grew to become the Secretary of State below President Barack Obama.
Then in 2020, Markey handily defeated the younger main challenger Joe Kennedy III by greater than 10 factors.
Markey, who’s from Malden, served for 37 years within the U.S. Home of Representatives earlier than becoming a member of the Senate.
Markey has aligned himself with progressive teams and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, amongst others on the left. He has pushed for the “Green New Deal.”
Moulton in his announcement video famous that residents are going through unaffordable prices, the significance of common well being care, and tackling local weather change.
“I want Massachusetts to lead the nation in big, forward-looking, progressive solutions that make life better for working people,” Moulton stated. “It’s why I authored essentially the most formidable high-speed rail plan in many years, reducing carbon emissions, creating good union jobs, and file investments in reasonably priced housing.
“But people who need help the most need wins now, so I led and passed the bipartisan 988 national mental health Lifeline that’s connected over 13 million people in crisis to critical health support,” he added. “And we have to fight harder for our kids. They need us to get back on the offensive when it comes to banning assault weapons and fighting climate change.”
