MA-SEN Megathread: Senator Markey wins

[Roblox]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

*Joe Biden voice* C'mon man!

Anyway, I made my first ever political donation today (I'm 18) to Ed Markey's campaign.

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

Markey is also pretty close with Warren so she is probably the best qualified Senator to judge this race.

The absence of a Sanders endorsement isn't great (dishonourable mentions: Merkley, Baldwin, Hirono) but they're holding off anyway for whatever reason. The most likely is that they think their endorsements probably won't matter enough to shift the race and don't want to risk alienating Kennedy before he's in the chamber with them. I could imagine that being the case given that the AOC + Warren endorsements probably covers most of what another progressive endorsement might do, but the absence of an endorsement might also have an impact now that we've got to the stage where reporters are asking out-of-state Senators what they think of the race.

[free my dawg]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

What a ****ing cuck.

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

Markey is also pretty close with Warren so she is probably the best qualified Senator to judge this race.

The absence of a Sanders endorsement isn't great (dishonourable mentions: Merkley, Baldwin, Hirono) but they're holding off anyway for whatever reason. The most likely is that they think their endorsements probably won't matter enough to shift the race and don't want to risk alienating Kennedy before he's in the chamber with them. I could imagine that being the case given that the AOC + Warren endorsements probably covers most of what another progressive endorsement might do, but the absence of an endorsement might also have an impact now that we've got to the stage where reporters are asking out-of-state Senators what they think of the race.

Yeah, I feel like Markey will still win but instead of a healthy margin, it'll be a bit more close, with the saving grace being - as you allude to - the other progressives that have boosted him in AOC & Warren, as well as that "with all due respect" ad. But tbh, I honestly don't even know anymore. All I know is that this whole primary has just hit such a high level of ridiculous.

(Another thing I've noticed, though, is that Bernie's list of congressional endorsements is literally just a carbon copy of candidates that endorsed him for President. He didn't endorse progessives like Grijalva, Porter, or Haaland, all of whom had endorsed Warren instead of him. If there's a connection there, then that'd really be some petty, personal bullsh*t).

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

Markey is also pretty close with Warren so she is probably the best qualified Senator to judge this race.

The absence of a Sanders endorsement isn't great (dishonourable mentions: Merkley, Baldwin, Hirono) but they're holding off anyway for whatever reason. The most likely is that they think their endorsements probably won't matter enough to shift the race and don't want to risk alienating Kennedy before he's in the chamber with them. I could imagine that being the case given that the AOC + Warren endorsements probably covers most of what another progressive endorsement might do, but the absence of an endorsement might also have an impact now that we've got to the stage where reporters are asking out-of-state Senators what they think of the race.

Yeah, I feel like Markey will still win but instead of a healthy margin, it'll be a bit more close, with the saving grace being - as you allude to - the other progressives that have boosted him in AOC & Warren, as well as that "with all due respect" ad. But tbh, I honestly don't even know anymore. All I know is that this whole primary has just hit such a high level of ridiculous.

(Another thing I've noticed, though, is that Bernie's list of congressional endorsements is literally just a carbon copy of candidates that endorsed him for President. He didn't endorse progessives like Grijalva, Porter, or Haaland, all of whom had endorsed Warren instead of him. If there's a connection there, then that'd really be some petty, personal bullsh*t).

It's not. He endorsed Pressley.

Edit: I'm pretty certain there were others, too. Bonnie Watson Coleman endorsed Biden and got Sanders' endorsement in NJ.

[brucejoel99]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

Markey is also pretty close with Warren so she is probably the best qualified Senator to judge this race.

The absence of a Sanders endorsement isn't great (dishonourable mentions: Merkley, Baldwin, Hirono) but they're holding off anyway for whatever reason. The most likely is that they think their endorsements probably won't matter enough to shift the race and don't want to risk alienating Kennedy before he's in the chamber with them. I could imagine that being the case given that the AOC + Warren endorsements probably covers most of what another progressive endorsement might do, but the absence of an endorsement might also have an impact now that we've got to the stage where reporters are asking out-of-state Senators what they think of the race.

Yeah, I feel like Markey will still win but instead of a healthy margin, it'll be a bit more close, with the saving grace being - as you allude to - the other progressives that have boosted him in AOC & Warren, as well as that "with all due respect" ad. But tbh, I honestly don't even know anymore. All I know is that this whole primary has just hit such a high level of ridiculous.

(Another thing I've noticed, though, is that Bernie's list of congressional endorsements is literally just a carbon copy of candidates that endorsed him for President. He didn't endorse progessives like Grijalva, Porter, or Haaland, all of whom had endorsed Warren instead of him. If there's a connection there, then that'd really be some petty, personal bullsh*t).

It's not. He endorsed Pressley.

Edit: I'm pretty certain there were others, too. Bonnie Watson Coleman endorsed Biden and got Sanders' endorsement in NJ.

Oh oof, I went to his Get Involved page's list & hers must've slipped my eye. Good to know it's not that issue, then!

[Never Made it to Graceland]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

Markey is also pretty close with Warren so she is probably the best qualified Senator to judge this race.

The absence of a Sanders endorsement isn't great (dishonourable mentions: Merkley, Baldwin, Hirono) but they're holding off anyway for whatever reason. The most likely is that they think their endorsements probably won't matter enough to shift the race and don't want to risk alienating Kennedy before he's in the chamber with them. I could imagine that being the case given that the AOC + Warren endorsements probably covers most of what another progressive endorsement might do, but the absence of an endorsement might also have an impact now that we've got to the stage where reporters are asking out-of-state Senators what they think of the race.

Yeah, I feel like Markey will still win but instead of a healthy margin, it'll be a bit more close, with the saving grace being - as you allude to - the other progressives that have boosted him in AOC & Warren, as well as that "with all due respect" ad. But tbh, I honestly don't even know anymore. All I know is that this whole primary has just hit such a high level of ridiculous.

(Another thing I've noticed, though, is that Bernie's list of congressional endorsements is literally just a carbon copy of candidates that endorsed him for President. He didn't endorse progessives like Grijalva, Porter, or Haaland, all of whom had endorsed Warren instead of him. If there's a connection there, then that'd really be some petty, personal bullsh*t).

It's not. He endorsed Pressley.

Edit: I'm pretty certain there were others, too. Bonnie Watson Coleman endorsed Biden and got Sanders' endorsement in NJ.

Oh oof, I went to his Get Involved page's list & hers must've slipped my eye. Good to know it's not that issue, then!

To add, national figures tend to be selective with who they endorse. I think they prefer races where they're making the biggest impact, and don't want to saturate the market with endorsements. Whenever President Obama releases his list of endorsements, it always seems to me to be highly random, although it tends to resemble a Warren list - pretty progressive, but on balance slightly less so than the Bernie/AOC wing. For instance, he endorsed Jamaal Bowman, a Justice Democrat guy who primaried Engel, but he also endorsed Staten Island's Max Rose, a Blue Dog who sucks.

[Calthrina950]

https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1296536959385575429

If Warren can endorse Markey even though she was literally Kennedy's professor/mentor, then Bernie has no excuse.

Markey is also pretty close with Warren so she is probably the best qualified Senator to judge this race.

The absence of a Sanders endorsement isn't great (dishonourable mentions: Merkley, Baldwin, Hirono) but they're holding off anyway for whatever reason. The most likely is that they think their endorsements probably won't matter enough to shift the race and don't want to risk alienating Kennedy before he's in the chamber with them. I could imagine that being the case given that the AOC + Warren endorsements probably covers most of what another progressive endorsement might do, but the absence of an endorsement might also have an impact now that we've got to the stage where reporters are asking out-of-state Senators what they think of the race.

Yeah, I feel like Markey will still win but instead of a healthy margin, it'll be a bit more close, with the saving grace being - as you allude to - the other progressives that have boosted him in AOC & Warren, as well as that "with all due respect" ad. But tbh, I honestly don't even know anymore. All I know is that this whole primary has just hit such a high level of ridiculous.

(Another thing I've noticed, though, is that Bernie's list of congressional endorsements is literally just a carbon copy of candidates that endorsed him for President. He didn't endorse progessives like Grijalva, Porter, or Haaland, all of whom had endorsed Warren instead of him. If there's a connection there, then that'd really be some petty, personal bullsh*t).

It's not. He endorsed Pressley.

Edit: I'm pretty certain there were others, too. Bonnie Watson Coleman endorsed Biden and got Sanders' endorsement in NJ.

Oh oof, I went to his Get Involved page's list & hers must've slipped my eye. Good to know it's not that issue, then!

To add, national figures tend to be selective with who they endorse. I think they prefer races where they're making the biggest impact, and don't want to saturate the market with endorsements. Whenever President Obama releases his list of endorsements, it always seems to me to be highly random, although it tends to resemble a Warren list - pretty progressive, but on balance slightly less so than the Bernie/AOC wing. For instance, he endorsed Jamaal Bowman, a Justice Democrat guy who primaried Engel, but he also endorsed Staten Island's Max Rose, a Blue Dog who sucks.

Shouldn't we take into consideration the kinds of districts that Bowman and Rose represent? Bowman's district, as you know, is absolutely Safe Democratic, while Rose's seat is the only district in New York City that is even remotely competitive, was carried by Trump in 2016, and was held by a Republican (Dan Donovan) until Rose ousted him in 2018. I certainly wouldn't fault Obama for endorsing the best kinds of candidates for each type of district, and I highly doubt that a bold progressive of Ocasio-Cortez's caliber would be as successful on Staten Island.

[Dipper Josh]

https://twitter.com/vgmac/status/1296484779215532034

Remember, folks: the establishment hates socialists more than it hates fascists.

No offense, but I literally have no idea what you're talking about.  Ed Markey is not a socialist and Joe Kennedy III isn't a fascist.

You're obfuscating the last point I made. A primary challenger from the left is a pariah, a challenger from the (admittedly vague) right is a bright young man. Surely you see the hypocrisy from Pelosi, right?

I see hypocrisy in Pelosi backing a primary challenger against a Democratic incumbent, but I don't think it has anything to do with either candidate's ideology any more than Pelosi's endorsement of Ilhan Omar did  

This is basically a proxy fight between the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses, perhaps even between Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi specifically.  That's all that's going on here as far as congressional Democrats are concerned.  

However, I do see ideological hypocrisy from - and I'm not saying this applies to you, I genuinely don't remember who you supported - Berniecrats who supported primary challenges from the right against folks like Michael Capuano, Jerry Nadler, and Mike Honda and now cry foul here.  I say all that as a Markey supporter who considers Kennedy little more than an over-hyped empty suit who is already a waste of a perfectly good House seat as it is

Can you stop making stuff up? You posted this after I disproved that Pressley challenged Capuano from the right and then you continue to double down by saying Jerry Nadler was primaried from the right too?

Lindsey Boylan supported M4A, GND, 15 dollar Minimum wage, Universal Pre-K, and decriminalizing sex work!

Now I'm fully aware that Nadler is on the left of the house leadership and MAYBE you can make an argument that it was a lateral challenge but to say he was primaried from the right is either ignorance or straight up lying.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Bernie wtf.

Seriously, just what the hell is going on here?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The DCCC will still blacklist you if you dare to challenge one of their sh**tty incumbents while the Speaker just endorsed against a Senate incumbent. It's so obvious that they want anyone remotely progressive gone. Markey isn't some progressive dream, but he's a hell of a lot better than Kennedy.

[free my dawg]

Say what you want about Warren but she'd be busting her ass working for Markey.

[Xing]

Disappointed that Sanders didn’t endorse Markey. Anyway, it is very clear that a lot of people don’t care about being consistent at all, which is nothing new. Democrats have the right to support some primary challengers and not support others, but being against the very idea of primary challenges and then turning around and supporting one that you like isn’t very principled. Either way, I’ll be glad when this primary is over.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

Say what you want about Warren but she'd be busting her ass working for Markey.

Tbf she doesn't seem to have been campaigning for him and I don't blame her. She knew Kennedy well and endorsing against him was probably hard enough.

The Hickenlooper endorsement was worse, but I'm glad she took a stand here.

[Pyro]

Hopefully Pelosi's endorsement backfires as it did with Engel.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

Hopefully Pelosi's endorsement backfires as it did with Engel.

Her endorsement there didn't backfire, it just failed. She is considerably less controversial than HRC among Democrats.

[RussFeingoldWasRobbed]

Hot take- Sanders not endorsing Markey is a positive. If we make this primary "Bernie vs moderates" we will lose

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

Hot take- Sanders not endorsing Markey is a positive. If we make this primary "Bernie vs moderates" we will lose

I had considered this, but it doesn't line up perfectly with him endorsing candidates for other races. I suppose there is a middle ground where his endorsement of a much lower-profile candidate massively boosts their fundraising to an extent that offsets any disadvantage of a Sanders endorsement, but deciding Markey's on the wrong side of that line seems like a risky gamble to me.

The other half of this is that your point could lose strength now that he's been prompted for his opinion and refused to endorse Markey. I don't think the following is especially likely, but Kennedy outriders might now try to talk about how progressive they are and how even Sanders wouldn't move against him.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

The DCCC will still blacklist you if you dare to challenge one of their sh**tty incumbents while the Speaker just endorsed against a Senate incumbent. It's so obvious that they want anyone remotely progressive gone. Markey isn't some progressive dream, but he's a hell of a lot better than Kennedy.

Call me naive, but I'm not sure this is directly a result of Markey's progressivism. It wouldn't be happening if Kennedy were clearly more progressive than him so that is a requirement but I suspect Pelosi and co.'s principal reasons for backing this challenge are because Kennedy's name has power in Democratic leadership circles and to support her caucus with the expectation of loyalty in return.

We often mistake old-fashioned cronyism for ideological conflict, but the caucus' leadership has been prepared (although, admittedly, much less so) to crush moderate rising stars who could threaten their place in the hierarchy. I strongly suspect the lack of an obvious heir to the Speakership after Hoyer and Clyburn is considered a feature, not a bug, because it precludes the possibility of said heir deciding to accelerate the succession.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Hot Take: Not all Democratic primaries are about Berniecrats vs. the establishment

[Brittain33]

It looks like turnout will be high. The secretary of State said that over a million people have already requested absentee ballots. Sorry I couldn't post the link. I would think that would benefit Kennedy?

It's misleading because the Secretary of State mailed out ballot request forms to everyone for the first time ever so it took little effort to request a ballot. In addition, the request allowed you to request both general and primary election ballots so people who may only care about the general, could request both and keep their options open. We'll see how many actually participate in the primary and send in their ballots. 

[Hassan 2022]

Hot take- Sanders not endorsing Markey is a positive. If we make this primary "Bernie vs moderates" we will lose

I think this could be true in the sense that Sanders wasn't that popular in the Boston suburbs in the 2016/2020 primaries, and Markey needs to do well in a good chunk of them to win the primary on September 1. Sanders' endorsement could hurt Markey in the suburbs and potentially drive some Warren-voting 2020 primary Democrats and Markey-supporting moderates in these areas to vote for Kennedy, potentially tipping the election to Kennedy altogether. Then again, I might be reading way too much into this lol.

[Brittain33]

Hot take- Sanders not endorsing Markey is a positive. If we make this primary "Bernie vs moderates" we will lose

I think this could be true in the sense that Sanders wasn't that popular in the Boston suburbs in the 2016/2020 primaries, and Markey needs to do well in a good chunk of them to win the primary on September 1. Sanders' endorsement could hurt Markey in the suburbs and potentially drive some Warren-voting 2020 primary Democrats and Markey-supporting moderates in these areas to vote for Kennedy, potentially tipping the election to Kennedy altogether. Then again, I might be reading way too much into this lol.

I have to agree - I think Markey benefits from being the de facto Our Revolution candidate and getting their energy and endorsements without having to get the equivocal label of being Sanders's choice. That could easily hurt him more than help.

[S019]

The DCCC will still blacklist you if you dare to challenge one of their sh**tty incumbents while the Speaker just endorsed against a Senate incumbent. It's so obvious that they want anyone remotely progressive gone. Markey isn't some progressive dream, but he's a hell of a lot better than Kennedy.

Then why didn't Pelosi endorse Caruso-Cabrera or Melton-Meaux, if they want all progressives gone?