AOC Celebrates as ‘Progressive’ Markey Defeats Pelosi Backed Kennedy in Massachusetts Dem Senate Primary

As we had reported previously, US House rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had thrown her support behind incumbent Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate Primary while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported his opponent, Joe Kennedy III.

AOC was one of the first to congratulate Markey on Twitter after it was announced that he was the winner in the election that was held today. “Congratulations Ed Markey – yours is a victory for the progressive movement, for 21st century policy, and for the Green New Deal.”

“THANK YOU to every single voter, supporter, organizer, grassroots donor, & everyday person who helped make this happen. This win belongs to you,” she added.

Congratulations @EdMarkey – yours is a victory for the progressive movement, for 21st century policy, and for the Green New Deal ????

THANK YOU to every single voter, supporter, organizer, grassroots donor, & everyday person who helped make this happen. This win belongs to you ???? https://t.co/pzzr8IAuH2

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 2, 2020

In a follow up tweet, AOC shared a story about Markey welcoming her to Congress, saying that “On a personal note, when I first got to Congress the reception I got in many spaces was v chilly. Ed Markey wasn’t afraid. He offered his expertise & partnership. He wasn’t scared of big policy & didn’t use kid gloves. It‘s great to watch him overcome the odds and win tonight.”

On a personal note, when I first got to Congress the reception I got in many spaces was v chilly.

Ed Markey wasn’t afraid. He offered his expertise & partnership. He wasn’t scared of big policy & didn’t use kid gloves.

It‘s great to watch him overcome the odds and win tonight. https://t.co/lFjlu4AUiQ

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 2, 2020

Today has been a rough day for Pelosi after it was reported earlier that she was caught on video taking a trip to a shuttered salon in San Francisco, to the dismay of the owner.

Kevin O’Connor, an attorney, is projected to win the Republican Senate primary and will face Markey, turning away a challenge from entrerenuer Shiva Ayyadurai. O’Connor led Ayyadurai, 59%-41% with 27% of precincts reporting.

From The Hill:

The 74-year-old Markey campaigned heavily on his progressive record, particularly regarding environmental issues, citing his co-authorship of the Green New Deal with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who endorsed him over Kennedy.

The senator’s campaign slogan read, “It’s not your age — it’s the age of your ideas that’s important.”

The incumbent senator also boasted support from prominent progressive groups like the Sunshine Movement and Our Revolution, as well as left-wing congressional candidates Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush.

Kennedy, 39, criticized Markey for not being present enough in Massachusetts during his tenure in the Senate, arguing that new blood was needed in the upper chamber.

Kennedy started out with a double-digit lead in the polls when he first announced he was challenging Markey last year. However, despite the public backing of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) and other high-profile members of the House, his lead evaporated in the final weeks of the campaign, with the Real Clear Politics polling average showing Markey with a 11.2 point lead.

The election marks the first time a member of the Kennedy political dynasty has lost a statewide election in Massachusetts.

The race had turned personal over the past month after the Kennedy family name was drawn into the battle. In one instance, Markey referenced President John F. Kennedy’s famous 1961 inaugural address in a widely-seen advertisement.

“We asked what we could do for our country. We went out, we did it,” Markey said in the three-minute ad, referencing JFK’s quote. “With all due respect, it’s time to start asking what your country can do for you.”

Markey did not directly address his primary opponent in the spot.

Kennedy quickly hit back, accusing the senator of “weaponizing” his family’s history.

“I didn’t [bring my family into the race],” Joe Kennedy told The Hill last week. “The senator did.”

The congressman’s campaign sounded the alarm over online harassment against his family and supporters. 

Kennedy’s campaign manager, Nick Clemons, penned an email to Walsh, copying members of the press earlier this week, in which he demanded that Markey publicly end attacks, though he said he did not believe the harassment was coming from anyone on the Markey campaign’s payroll. Clemons included screenshots of the harassment that showed graphic references to the assassinations of JFK and RFK.

Markey’s campaign manager John Walsh hit back, saying Markey had condemned the attacks multiple times and that Clemons was “choosing to end the campaign with crocodile tears.”