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Pelosi’s endorsement could be a big boon for Kennedy as the race has tightened in recent weeks, with polls showing he and Markey, who served alongside Pelosi in the House for more than two decades, in a close tie before the September 1 contest.
Still, Pelosi’s decision shocked many on Capitol Hill and puts her in direct contradiction with her close ally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), whose Senate campaign arm is designed to protect vulnerable cardholders like Markey. The speaker rarely weighs in on Democratic primary contests, especially in favor of the challenger.
An aide to Pelosi said Kennedy did not seek approval. But Pelosi felt compelled to weigh in on the race given Kennedy’s efforts in 2018, “which was critical to the Democrats’ successful efforts to win back the majority,” the aide said.
Pelosi was also concerned after the Markey campaign began to escalate its attacks on the Kennedy name, attacking “Joe, his family, his supporters and the political legacy of the Kennedy family,” the aide added.
“With all due respect, it’s time to start asking yourself what your country can do for you,” Markey said at the end of an announcement, borrowing from the famous quote from Kennedy’s great uncle, President John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy responded with his own speech earlier this week, accompanied by leaders of the black community, defending his family and accusing Markey of obstructing efforts to promote racial equality during his political career.
“We are, once again, at a time of deep racial judgment. And we deserve a senator who will not be left behind,” Kennedy said.
Markey and Pelosi have a long-standing relationship after working decades together during his nearly 40-year tenure in the House. Pelosi even appointed Markey to head a House select committee on climate change in 2007.
But Kennedy has been loyal to Pelosi since joining the House in 2013, often working behind the scenes to find ways for new members to participate in the caucus leadership rather than pushing Pelosi out like some of his classmates. . Kennedy was a major asset to Pelosi in 2018, using his influence in the caucus to bolster his support for Pelosi’s second term as president at a time when many others were calling for him to step down.
Markey tweeted Thursday that Pelosi “is an effective leader who has broken glass ceilings throughout her career,” adding that “any candidate would be proud to have her support. I congratulate Joe Kennedy on getting her support. “
Pelosi donated $ 5,000 to Kennedy’s campaign through his super PAC earlier this month. She also donated $ 5,000 to Markey’s campaign last year.
Pelosi’s endorsement infuriated many progressives, who faced growing resistance from the Democratic establishment as they launched their own main challenges against the sitting members.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.), who has supported a slew of major challengers against Democrats since her own insurgency campaign in 2018, said Pelosi’s support for Kennedy on Markey goes to the Against the party’s longstanding policy of supporting challengers, which she said “it seems less of a policy and more of a selection activity.”
“No one can complain about the main challenges again,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
The New York Democrat has been a staunch supporter of Markey – who is the Senate’s main co-sponsor of his Green New Deal proposal – and has helped rally her own massive fan base behind the 74-year-old.
Justice Democrats, which helped fuel the rise of Ocasio-Cortez and a host of other progressive challengers, issued a dazzling statement accusing Pelosi of double weight.
“This gesture smacks of hypocrisy,” the group wrote in a statement. “The party sets a standard for progressives and an entirely different standard for establishment.”
Democratic campaign leaders redoubled their efforts during the 2020 election cycle to protect incumbents from threats from the left, trying to reassure anxious party members who saw Ocasio-Cortez overthrow Joe Crowley, who was seen as can be the spokesperson. The Democratic Congressional campaign committee has started implementing policies such as a “blacklist” for outside groups that support the main challengers.
House Democrats have argued that their incumbent protection policies are enforced only in their races and not passed on to the Senate.
Several other incumbent Democrats – including House Foreign Affairs Speaker Eliot Engel (DN.Y.) – have also been ousted by liberal challengers this year. Earlier this month, longtime Rep Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) Also lost a main challenge, falling to Cori Bush, a candidate backed by Senator Bernie Sanders.
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