Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Baker v. Markey in 2026? Not so fast, NCAA says.
Former Gov. Charlie Baker's camp tried to shut down rumors that he could be eyeing a Senate run in 2026.
Swirling amid the snowflakes in Massachusetts this holiday season is one particularly juicy rumor: that former Gov. Charlie Baker could be eyeing a political comeback in the near future.
In theory, an opening exists in 2026 when Sen. Ed Markey runs for reelection. Markey would be 80 years old on Election Day, and would be up for another six-year term. He confirmed his plans in October to run again.
Baker, the perpetually popular moderate Republican who served two terms, declined to run for governor again in 2022. He now works as president of the NCAA.
Baker’s potential comeback was a topic of discussion on WCVB’s “On The Record” this past week. “It certainly looks that way,” Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh said when asked about the possibility.
Advertisement:
Marsh cited the recent campaign of John Deaton, a cryptocurrency advocate and personal injury attorney who tried and failed to unseat Sen. Elizabeth Warren this year. Deaton positioned himself as a Republican in the mold of Baker, breaking with the MAGA wing of the party on issues like reproductive rights.
Deaton said he was motivated to run in the first place after seeing a poll that showed Baker’s strength in a theoretical matchup against Warren. He worked with some of the same political strategists as Baker, and even toyed with writing in Baker’s name for President on his own ballot.
Advertisement:
“The Baker campaign was the Deaton campaign,” Marsh said simply on WCVB.
In October, Baker himself got the rumor mill spinning. He said he would “never rule anything out” when asked about the possibility of returning to politics. “I think we live in really challenging times, and it’s important [for] really good people to step up,” he added.
But the NCAA moved quickly to shut down any gossip. Reports linking Baker to a Senate run are “untrue,” NCAA Senior VP of External Affairs Tim Buckley told ESPN reporter Pete Thamel. “He’s clearly not running for any political office and is solely focused on the future of college sports,” Buckley reportedly said.
A run against Markey would be no sure thing. He was recently found to be the 10th-most popular senator in the country, up from the No. 13 spot earlier this year.
But after years of presidential politics dominated by the 82-year-old Joe Biden and the 78-year-old Donald Trump, voters may be poised to turn against older politicians. After Markey announced his decision to run again, Boston.com asked readers if they would support an age limit for U.S. senators. Of the 341 respondents, 318 said they would support age limits. A recent UMass Amherst/WCVB poll found that 72% of Massachusetts residents support an age limit on U.S. senators. People from both sides of the political aisle generally support an average age limit of 66 years old, the pollsters said.
Advertisement:
Baker is 68. He was found to be the most popular governor in the country multiple times during his tenure as governor. Before leaving office, he had a 74% approval rating. For context, Gov. Maura Healey was found to be the 14th-most popular governor in the country this past summer, with a 59% approval rating.
Earlier this month, Baker made headlines while advocating for more federal regulations around sports betting. Appearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Baker said he was opposed to “prop bets” in college sports.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com