|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Joe Kennedy-for-Senate backers mount drive to drum out Ed Markey
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | EastTexasDem |
| Last Edited | EastTexasDem Aug 16, 2019 10:39pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | News |
| Author | Stephanie Murray |
| News Date | Friday, August 16, 2019 11:15:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | BOSTON — Standing before a group of donors at a Cape Cod fundraiser last weekend, Sen. Ed Markey joked about his current political predicament.
When you run for public office, he told them, you either run unopposed or you run paranoid. The quip, according to a source who was present, was meant to convey that Markey takes his two announced primary challengers — business executive Steve Pemberton and labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan — seriously.
But Markey has an even bigger reason to be paranoid: growing chatter in state political circles that the last member of the Kennedy political dynasty has an eye on his Senate seat in 2020.
A mysterious July telephone poll that tested Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy III against Markey in a head-to-head contest first sparked speculation about the young congressman’s intentions. Then came the formation of a grass-roots group that aims to draft Kennedy into the race.
The "Jump in, Joe!" group — formed by members of Kennedy's Boston Pride Parade Committee — launched a website, a Facebook group and a petition earlier this week.
In less than a week, the Facebook group to draft Kennedy swelled to nearly 600 members. The petition has 160 signatures.
"This is not about the incumbent. It's not about Sen. Markey. We admire his public service over the past 43 years,” said Jamie Hoag, one of the people who launched the group. “This is about Joe Kennedy and why we think he would be the best fit for the U.S. Senate.”
The prospect of the 38-year-old Kennedy challenging the 73-year-old Markey is taking place against the backdrop of generational conflict within the state Democratic Party. One year after Ayanna Pressley took down then-Rep. Michael Capuano in a primary election, almost every member of the state's congressional delegation is being pressed by a primary challenger in 2020.
But there’s another possibility making the rounds in state political circles: That the draft-Kennedy push could be desig |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
