If historical past have been to be repeated, Eddie Markey would hand off his Senate seat the way in which it was “handed” off to him.
That was again in 2013 when then Sen. John Kerry vacated the seat upon his appointment by President Barack Obama to develop into Secretary of State.
Earlier than Kerry formally resigned, nevertheless, he gave his pal Markey, who was already a veteran member of the U.S Home, a heads up, in order that Markey would have an necessary benefit and straightforward path to interchange him in a particular election.
It was additionally a sign to discourage different Democrats from operating.
Markey was capable of set his marketing campaign in movement even earlier than Kerry made his announcement official, giving Markey an necessary edge over whoever would problem him for Kerry’s seat in a Democrat main.
That challenger turned out to be fellow U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch of South Boston.
Markey defeated Lynch after Markey was endorsed by Kerry and had the help of the Democrat Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee together with a ton of marketing campaign money,
Lynch put up a spirited struggle, although. He obtained 230,335 votes, or 43%, to 311,219 votes, or 57%, for Markey.
Markey has been undefeated ever since, and he most notably he beat then U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III for re-election in 2020. It’s the solely time a Kennedy has been defeated in Massachusetts.
Now Markey, who might be eighty years previous come election day in 2026, is operating once more, and there’s no signal he’s going handy off something to anyone.
There is no such thing as a established Democrat operating towards him and the Republicans have but to give you a candidate.
The one Democrat operating towards Markey up to now is Alex Rikleen, an Acton trainer and political novice.
But Markey is already energetically campaigning as if he have been dealing with Joe Kennedy over again.
He has been endorsed by Sen. Elizbeth Warren together with Reps, Richard Neal of Springfield, Lori Trahan of Westford and James McGovern of Worcester.
Nonetheless, he has but to be endorsed by three Massachusetts members of the Home who would run for his seat in a second have been Markey to drop his candidacy.
They’re Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Boston, Seth Moulton of Salem and Jake Auchincloss of Newton. Joe Kennedy III might additionally run once more.
Markey might search handy off his Senate seat to certainly one of them the way in which Kerry did for him by first confiding his determination to his hand chosen potential alternative after which by giving the fortunate individual his endorsement.
It’s not more likely to occur. Markey has been in public workplace for thus lengthy (fifty-two years) that he is aware of no different life. Retirement will not be an choice. Many individuals imagine a seat within the Senate is retirement anyway.
And there presently isn’t any Democrat within the White Home to make hm an envoy ought to he step apart, the way in which Joe Biden made Joe Kennedy particular envoy to Northern Eire after Markey beat him.
Nor are there many companies keen to rent eighty-year-old males. So, he has to run.
But, Markey’s determination to run once more is holding again a whole lot of political careers.
Had been he not operating, it will be like a dam bursting. It could present youthful Democrat Occasion workplace holders an opportunity to maneuver up the ladder and advance their political careers.
Hungry members of Congress like Pressley, Moulton and Auchincloss would quit their Home seats in a heartbeat to make the run, which signifies that there could be a number of candidates, like state representatives, operating for his or her Congressional seats.
Then, in flip, there could be metropolis councilors, choose board members and others operating for these state legislative seats, and so forth. It could be a political tsunami.
Even Joe Kennedy III, in search of one thing to do, would most likely run once more.
Historical past does repeat itself. However don’t rely on it.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas will be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
