Restoring Camelot? Joe Kennedy’s Challenge
Rep. Joe Kennedey III (left) and Sen. Ed Markey (right) faced off in the Massachusett’s Democratic Party Senate primary race this month. Source
During this primary election season, all eyes were tje Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary. Under normal circumstances, this race would not have garnered much attention. An elected U.S. senator has not been defeated in a primary since former Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) in 2012. Yet this race has been in the spotlight for months and the result may signal a larger change in the Democratic party.
Joseph P. Kennedy III, the grandson of Former U.S. Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, announced on September 21, 2019 that he would challenge incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Senate Democratic primary. Kennedy, once considered to be a rising star in the Democratic party, made headlines with the announcement as he would be the third member of the Kennedy family to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate if he won. However, this continuation of the Kennedy political dynasty did not come to fruition. Joe Kennedy is now the first in the history of his name to lose an election in Massachusetts, leaving the legacy of his family’s Camelot in the past.
On September 1st, following months of campaign events, speeches, and contentious debates, Markey defeated Kennedy, winning 55% of the vote. Sen. Markey’s incumbency advantage overtook Kennedy’s name recognition and family history. Incumbency is a strong asset for politicians seeking reelection, though in this race, it was not the only key to victory. Markey’s strength came from the overwhelming support he received from progressives and young voters and congressional support from fellow Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
The growing strength of the progressive wing of the Democratic party has been an important factor in recent Democratic primary elections. Young progressives, often women of color, are winning races across the U.S. at every level of government. Beginning in 2018 with the election of “The Squad” and most recently with the triumph of Jamaal Bowman in New York and Cori Bush in Missouri, the progressive lane of the party is growing and so is its influence. Could this simply be a coincidence or is it indicative of something more powerful?
While ideology was not an important factor in this race, the result may signal a further ideological shift within the party. The differences between Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy in their policy positions are few and inconsequential to Massachusetts voters— Kennedy even supports Markey’s key platform item, the Green New Deal. Ultimately, the result of the Massachusetts primary shows that voters — specifically young progressive voters — will choose the candidate who supports their beliefs and policy positions even if they do not reflect their demographics. Markey is 74 years old and has served in the U.S. Congress for nearly 4 decades, but the Massachusetts electorate is not ready to see him go.
Perhaps Rep. Kennedy’s biggest downfall in this race was his lack of focus and direction. Kennedy’s campaign tried to attack Sen. Markey as being inept and aloof, but as a result, failed to make the case for himself. Consequently, voters chose an established candidate whose agenda reflects theirs. This begs the questions: is the Ed Markey brand of progressivism the real future of the Democratic party and what does this mean for Joe Kennedy? At present, these questions do not have an answer and may not for some time. However, one thing is certain, both Joe Kennedy and his party must now reassess their identity and their plan for the future.