Ed Markey

Ed Markey
Official portrait, 2013
Ed Markey
Born	Edward John Markey 11 7, 1946
Birthplace	Malden, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	Green New Deal, climate and energy policy, longest-serving Democrat in Congress
Education	Boston College (BA, JD)
Website	[Official Senate website Official site]

Edward John Markey (born July 11, 1946) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Massachusetts since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Markey has been a fixture in Massachusetts politics and in the United States Congress for five decades, beginning with his election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1972 at the age of 26. He represented Massachusetts's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for 20 terms from 1976 to 2013 before winning a special election to the Senate following John Kerry's appointment as United States Secretary of State. Markey is the longest-serving Democrat currently in Congress, having held office continuously since 1976. Throughout his career, he has been closely identified with climate change and energy policy, serving as chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2011 and authoring the Senate version of the Green New Deal resolution. As of 2026, Markey is seeking reelection to a third full Senate term, having received the endorsement of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and continuing to attract support among younger progressive voters.

Early Life

Edward John Markey was born on July 11, 1946, in Malden, Massachusetts, a city located in Middlesex County north of Boston. He grew up in a working-class Irish-American family in Malden, where he attended local schools. Markey's upbringing in the blue-collar suburbs of Boston shaped his later political orientation toward issues of economic fairness and consumer protection.

Markey served in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1973, attaining the rank of Specialist 4. His military service coincided with the Vietnam War era, though he served domestically in the reserves rather than being deployed overseas.

Education

Markey attended Boston College, where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College and subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. His legal education provided the foundation for a career that would begin almost immediately in public service and elected office.

Career

Massachusetts House of Representatives (1973–1976)

Markey began his political career at the age of 26 when he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1972. He represented the 16th Middlesex district from 1973 to 1975, and following redistricting, the 26th Middlesex district from 1975 to 1976. His predecessor in the seat was William Callahan, and upon Markey's departure for Congress, he was succeeded by John McNeil.

During his time in the state legislature, Markey gained experience in the legislative process and established himself as a young, energetic Democrat in Middlesex County politics. His tenure in the state house was relatively brief, serving as a stepping stone to his successful campaign for the United States House of Representatives.

United States House of Representatives (1976–2013)

In 1976, Markey won election to the United States House of Representatives, succeeding Torbert Macdonald as the representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. He was just 30 years old when he took his seat in Congress, making him one of the younger members of the House at the time. Markey would go on to serve 20 terms in the House—18 full terms and two partial terms—representing the district until 2013, when he departed to take his Senate seat. Upon his departure, Katherine Clark succeeded him in the congressional seat.

Throughout his long House career, Markey became a prominent voice on telecommunications, technology, consumer protection, and energy policy. He served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he was involved in shaping legislation related to the telecommunications industry, including provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Energy and Climate Leadership

Markey's most prominent role in the House was as a leader on energy and climate issues. In 2007, he was selected to chair the newly established House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, a position he held until the committee was abolished in January 2011. The committee was created by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to investigate and publicize the threats posed by climate change and to develop policy responses.

During his chairmanship, Markey co-authored the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, commonly known as the Waxman-Markey bill, with Henry Waxman, then-chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill proposed a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and passed the House in June 2009, though it did not advance in the Senate. The bill was a significant legislative achievement in climate policy, representing the first time that either chamber of Congress had passed comprehensive climate change legislation.

Markey was also active on nuclear safety issues. In 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, Markey pressed for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to apply the lessons learned from the disaster to American nuclear power plants. He challenged what he described as a "flat earth" approach to climate science among some of his congressional colleagues.

Other Legislative Interests

Beyond energy and climate, Markey was involved in a range of legislative issues during his House tenure. He introduced legislation targeting security gaps in air cargo screening procedures. He also introduced roller coaster safety legislation in July 2011, seeking federal oversight of amusement park ride safety standards.

Markey became the dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation in 2009, a position he continues to hold as of 2026, making him the longest-serving member of the state's representation in Washington.

United States Senate (2013–present)

2013 Special Election

In December 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts to serve as United States Secretary of State. Kerry's confirmation in January 2013 created a vacancy in the Senate that Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick filled by appointing Mo Cowan as an interim senator pending a special election. Markey entered the special election as a candidate for the Democratic nomination, defeating fellow Congressman Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary. In the June 2013 general election, Markey defeated Republican candidate Gabriel E. Gomez, a former Navy SEAL and businessman. Markey took office on July 16, 2013, succeeding Cowan and joining Elizabeth Warren as the second senator from Massachusetts.

2014 and 2020 Elections

Markey was elected to a full six-year Senate term in November 2014. In 2020, he faced a primary challenge from Congressman Joseph Kennedy III, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy. The race attracted national attention as a contest between an established progressive and a member of one of America's most prominent political families. Markey defeated Kennedy in the September 2020 primary by a significant margin, a result that was attributed in part to Markey's strong support among younger and progressive voters. He went on to win the general election by a wide margin.

Green New Deal

In February 2019, Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Green New Deal resolution in Congress. The resolution called for a ten-year mobilization to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, create millions of jobs in clean energy, and address economic inequality. As the Senate sponsor of the resolution, Markey became one of its most prominent advocates. The Green New Deal did not advance as legislation but became a defining framework in the national debate over climate policy and helped galvanize a new generation of climate activists.

Senate Committee Work and Policy Focus

In the Senate, Markey has continued his focus on climate, energy, and technology policy. He has served on several Senate committees, including the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As of January 2025, Markey serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee.

Markey has been active on a range of legislative issues in the Senate, including internet privacy, net neutrality, nuclear weapons policy, and foreign affairs. He has advocated for reductions in the United States' nuclear arsenal and has been a critic of arms sales to countries with poor human rights records.

Recent Legislative Activity

In February 2026, Markey joined Senators Ron Wyden and Jeanne Shaheen in introducing legislation that would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to issue refunds of tariff payments and pay interest on those refunds. The bill was a response to what the senators characterized as the economic harm caused by tariffs imposed during the Trump administration's second term.

Also in 2026, Markey urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to "cancel or curtail" a Trump administration initiative known as the "Board of Peace." In January 2026, Markey called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office, citing concerns related to Trump's pursuit of territorial expansion, including efforts regarding Greenland.

In February 2026, Markey announced that he would boycott President Trump's first official State of the Union address of his second term, joining several other New England Democrats in the protest.

2026 Senate Campaign

Markey is running for reelection to the Senate in 2026. He will be 80 years old on Election Day, making him the oldest Democratic senator seeking reelection in that cycle. He faces a Democratic primary challenge, with Congressman Seth Moulton among those contesting the seat. In February 2026, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu endorsed Markey's reelection, praising his record on climate change and health care and describing the partnership between her administration and his office.

Personal Life

Markey has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his long political career. He resides in Massachusetts and has represented the state in Washington for over five decades. His military service in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1973 preceded his entry into politics.

Markey has been noted for his appeal to younger voters, a somewhat unusual distinction for a politician of his generation. The Hill has described him as "an icon to Gen Z activists," a characterization linked to his sponsorship of the Green New Deal and his engagement with progressive causes that resonate with younger demographics.

Legacy

Ed Markey's career in Congress, spanning from 1976 to the present, makes him one of the longest-serving members in the history of the institution. His tenure has encompassed significant changes in American politics and policy, from the energy crises of the 1970s through the rise of the internet and the emergence of climate change as a central political issue.

Markey's most lasting legislative contributions have been in the areas of climate and energy policy. His co-authorship of the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill in 2009, though the legislation ultimately did not become law, represented a landmark moment in congressional climate action and influenced subsequent policy discussions. His sponsorship of the Green New Deal resolution in 2019, alongside Representative Ocasio-Cortez, helped reframe the national conversation about climate change by linking environmental policy to economic and social justice concerns.

In telecommunications policy, Markey played a role in shaping the regulatory framework for the internet and telecommunications industries during the 1990s and 2000s, serving as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

As the dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation since 2009, Markey has served as the institutional memory and senior voice of the state's representation in Washington. His continued service into his late 70s and prospective service into his 80s places him among a cohort of long-serving senators who have remained in office well past traditional retirement age, contributing to ongoing national discussions about age and public service.