peter martin

squashed:

In the Massachusetts Senate primary between Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch, all the hip progressives have endorsed Markey. Markey is, they note, a reliable Progressive vote. Lynch, on the other hand, has broken with the Democratic leadership on things like abortion. He’s getting some union support.

Despite all this, I can’t help thinking that he’s sort of a tool. (I haven’t irrevocably made up my mind. And I’m not categorically opposed to voting for tools.) He

He’s a Democrat who skews very liberal in part because he’s been in one of the safest districts in America - his district (which I live in) is probably the most liberal in Massachusetts. Lots of heavily Democratic towns in the Boston suburbs, many of which are very wealthy, and green business hubs along 128/95 in Waltham/Woburn/etc (unsurprising given his record as an environmental leader in Congress). 

Markey leads from the left, which is vital as a counter to the Gohmerts and Bachmanns out there…he’s not a centrist if that’s what you’re looking for.

He’s certainly not perfect (I’d have preferred to see Governor Patrick or Joe Kennedy III in the race), but he’s a progressive candidate with enough DC experience to give him more weight than the average Senate freshman….which is kind of a big deal, given that in a few short years we’ve gone from the most senior Senate representation to the least.