Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a prominent progressive member of Congress, is seriously considering a Senate bid in Massachusetts, potentially setting the stage for a heated race against both the current Senate Majority Leader Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton, who is also vying for the Democratic nomination. Sources close to Pressley indicate that she has been engaging with allies to explore the possibility of running for the Senate seat currently held by the 79-year-old Markey, a long-standing Democratic senator.
Markey, a veteran of the Senate, has been a target of criticism for his support of the Biden administration’s policies and has faced recent primary challenges from younger Democrats, including Moulton, who has positioned his campaign as a part of the party’s generational shift. A recent poll conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that Markey remains the favorite in a hypothetical Senate race, receiving 35% of the vote, while Pressley and Moulton would secure 21% and 25%, respectively. The survey, which included 416 likely Democratic voters, has a 6.1% margin of error.
Despite the financial disparity between Pressley and her potential competitors, Pressley has a track record of success in electoral races, including her 2018 victory over Rep. Mike Capuano in a primary challenge. However, her campaign would need to overcome significant financial hurdles, as her recent FEC filings show she only had around $148,000 in cash on hand. Markey and Moulton, on the other hand, have both raised substantial amounts, with Markey having amassed $2.7 million as of Sept. 30, and Moulton at $2.1 million.
Pressley, who has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice, has recently focused her efforts on addressing the government shutdown and protecting the rights of vulnerable communities, emphasizing her commitment to her constituents and the Democratic Party’s priorities. Her potential Senate run would be a major shift in her political career, as she would be making a leap from the House to the Senate, a move that could significantly impact the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
Markey, who has been a consistent presence in the Senate since 1976, has faced his own challenges in recent years, including a primary challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy III in 2020. The upcoming race for the Senate seat in Massachusetts has become a focal point of the Democratic Party’s internal dynamics, with multiple candidates vying for the nomination to represent the state in the upper chamber of Congress. The outcome of this race could have significant implications for the party’s future and its ability to maintain control of the Senate in the face of growing challenges from the Republican Party.