Around New England

Ed Markey Endorses Jake Auchincloss for Congress — But Fuzzy On Why

October 12, 2020

U.S. Senator Ed Markey has endorsed Jake Auchincloss, 36 days after the Newton city councilor won the Democratic primary for the Fourth Congressional District.

Auchincloss was seen as the least radical of the top tier of candidates in the September 1 Democratic primary, having supported the nominally Republican governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker. Markey is coming off a successful but bruising primary campaign in which he attempted to out-left U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III.

Markey’s statement endorsing Auchincloss issued on Twitter on Friday, October 9 was vague as to why he did so. Markey said Auchincloss “has long understood the meaning of public service” and said he looks forward to working with him  “and the Massachusetts delegation to tackle our climate crisis, expand our public transit systems, and guarantee health care to all.”

As a Newton City Councilor and Marine veteran, @JakeAuch has long understood the meaning of public service. I look forward to working with him and the Massachusetts delegation to tackle our climate crisis, expand our public transit systems, and guarantee health care to all. pic.twitter.com/s5rIqmIgCy

— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) October 9, 2020

Markey issued six other endorsements of Massachusetts Democrats on Friday, October 9, all in state legislative races. In each of those, his statement praised specific left-wing causes that the candidate has worked for. The Auchincloss endorsement was the only exception.

Massachusetts’s other U.S. senator, Elizabeth Warren, endorsed Auchincloss on Monday, October 5.

Auchincloss is squaring off in the Tuesday, November 3 general election against underdog Julie Hall, a Republican from Attleboro.