policy
Sen. Ed Markey said over the weekend he plans to run for re-election in 2026. Markey could be 80 on Election Day and run for one more six-year term.
Markey confirmed his intentions during an appearance on WCVB's “In the file” Sunday.
“This is the most energy I’ve ever had,” he said. “The issues are just absolutely critical to the long-term well-being of our country…It's not your age, it's the age of your ideas.”
This line reflects a line utilized by Allies of President Joe Biden earlier this 12 months, when his campaign helped head off concerns about Biden's suitability for a second term. His candidacy was torpedoed by a disastrous debate over the summer, and Vice President Kamala Harris has since tried to portray herself as a younger, more energetic alternative to former President Donald Trump. Some polls have found that a growing variety of Americans think Trump, now 78, is too old to be president.
A current one UMass Amherst/WCVB poll found that 72% of Massachusetts residents support age limits for U.S. senators. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who’s currently running for re-election, is 75 years old. The average age of current senators is 65.3 years. Continuation of a trend that this chamber is getting older and older.
“We don’t see much difference depending on how old the voter is or which party they support. But if we used the average age limit of 66 that voters wanted, both 78-year-old U.S. Sen. Markey and 75-year-old Warren would be unemployed,” said Raymond La Raja, a professor of political science at UMass Amherst and Co director of the survey said in a press release.
On WCVB, Markey spoke about his desire to pass more laws addressing issues reminiscent of climate change, social media safety for young people and gun safety.
“I’m ready for the fight,” he said. “I am ready to run for re-election and that is my full intention.”
Do we want an age limit for senators?
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