Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Pressley decides not to challenge Markey, opting for reelection campaign
Despite intense speculation about a Senate run, Rep. Ayanna Pressley has decided not to wade into the fight between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton.
After months of speculation, Rep. Ayanna Pressley said this week that she would not run for Senate, but instead seek reelection to the House next year.
Pressley broke the news in an interview with The Boston Globe, saying that she could potentially run for Senate in the future.
“Ultimately in this moment, I feel called to fight for the MA 7th in Congress,” she told the Globe. “I’m not closing the door to a Senate run down the line, and I’ve never done the work of organizing or movement building just for an election cycle, that’s the work that I do year-round and especially in these unprecedented times, so that work will continue.”
Advertisement:
Pressley represents much of Boston and is one of the more notable progressive voices in Congress.
When Sen. Ed Markey announced that he would seek reelection, rumors swirled in political circles about which ambitious young politician may seek to oust him in a primary. With Democrats reeling from their 2024 election loss and voters growing dissatisfied with the party’s aging vanguard, a lane appeared to be open for a younger candidate. Markey will be 80 on election day, and is seeking another six year term.
Rep. Seth Moulton, the center-left Democrat who represents multiple North Shore communities, seized the opening and announced his challenge to Markey in October. Moulton is arguing that Markey’s age is a disqualifying factor and that the party needs to break with its “status quo.”
Advertisement:
As of early November, Pressley was reportedly consulting with allies and examining the possibility of a Senate run. A few weeks later, multiple polls showed Markey leading Moulton, but with a potential avenue for Pressley to make the race competitive. One Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll found Pressley garnering 35% support in a three-way race, slightly edging out Markey’s 34%. Moulton’s support was 16% in this hypothetical scenario.
It will remain hypothetical. Pressley elaborated on her thinking in a press release Tuesday, saying that she had heard from supporters encouraging her to run for Senate.
“Hearing from so many people from throughout our Commonwealth encouraging me to run for the United States Senate was deeply humbling and a testament to the strength of our movement. It would be an honor to serve the whole Commonwealth—but with our daughter in her last year at home before college and a district that has been in the crosshairs of this White House, I am certain that the Massachusetts 7th is where I belong in this moment,” she said in a statement.
Pressley is a former Boston City Council member who was first elected to the House in 2018. Since then, she has advocated for a number of progressive causes like abortion rights, student debt cancellation, and climate resilience.
Advertisement:
“Together, we’ve fought for policies of deep consequence and delivered for our communities using every tool we have—passing critical legislation to expand mental health and trauma supports, securing tens of millions in federal dollars to build a more just and equitable district, and doing impactful constituent services daily,” she said in her statement.
Pressley has also been a steadfast supporter of immigrant rights, regularly raising the alarm this year over how the Trump administration is working to enact mass deportations. Pressley said that a desire to continue strengthening community bonds was a big factor in her decision-making. With the federal government showing no signs of slowing its immigration crackdown, Pressley alluded to the need for community activism in the face of new immigration enforcement practices.
“Now, more than ever, is the time to dig deep, to lean into mutual aid, and to use every tool available to stand in the gap in defense of our neighbors and our democracy,” she said.
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