The Republican U.S. Senate nominee in Massachusetts this year is embracing a moderate approach in his challenge to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge).
John Deaton, a 57-year-old attorney from Swansea, is running a socially liberal and fiscally conservative candidate, taking a different approach from that of many other Republicans running for U.S. Senate across the country.
Deaton supports legal abortion, in-vitro fertilization, Massachusetts gun laws, and same-sex marriage, while also supporting various tax breaks — including an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Premium Tax Credit (for lower-income families to purchase health insurance) — and opposing Warren’s position of substantially raising taxes on the wealthy.
“As a retired Marine and attorney for underdogs, John Deaton believes that the U.S. Senate should work for poor and working people, not the wealthy or well-connected,” Claire Hardwick, communications director for the Deaton campaign, told NewBostonPost in an email message. “Solutions, not slogans, are what voters want from their elected officials, and John Deaton plans to contrast his nonpartisan approach to governing with Elizabeth Warren’s extreme, divisive, and weak record on getting things done. Too often, politicians in both parties are choosing rhetoric over results. No matter who wins the White House, the Senate will play a critical role in delivering common sense solutions to America’s biggest challenges, including comprehensive immigration reform, supporting Israel, and supporting the right of women everywhere to have safe access to abortions and other reproductive services.”
Deaton’s campaign web site notes that he would support a law that would make Roe v. Wade the law of the land, overturning pro-life abortion bans in Republican-controlled states. It also says that he opposes late-term abortions and supports parental consent for abortions involving minors.
Deaton has also challenged Warren to a debate abortion, among other issues, though Warren has yet to accept.
“Leading up to the Primary Election, I agreed to FIVE DEBATES against my Primary opponent,” Deaton posted on X (Twitter) on September 4, 2024. “Last night, I issued a challenge to @ewarren to also agree to FIVE single-issue debates, including one regarding women’s reproductive rights and abortion. The country faces multiple crises and trying to cram all the issues into two short debates is a disservice to voters. Everyone should be requesting @SenWarren to ACCEPT the challenge. You can’t claim you’re a fighter for women and that women’s reproductive rights is the most important issue on the ballot and then NOT agree to debate me on that very issue.”
Deaton is also a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump.
Deaton slammed the former president following the ABC News debate September 9 between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Tonight’s debate only served to highlight the continued dysfunction of our politics, and I share the disappointment of so many Americans,” Deaton said in a press release from his campaign. “The candidates relied on personal attacks, divisive rhetoric, misrepresented facts, and failed to provide constructive solutions for the challenges facing the nation – the same brand of politics practiced by Senator Warren. It’s time we return to common-sense bipartisanship, focused on fixing our broken political system and getting government back to work for the people — and what we saw tonight underscores both why I chose to seek office and why I am not voting for either candidate on November 5th.”
Deaton is an underdog in the race against Warren this November. Cook Political Report puts the seat in its Solid D category.
New to NewBostonPost? Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. But you’ve found it. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks — $2 for two months. And join the real revolution.
