Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said Tuesday that she won’t be challenging Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) for his seat, and instead is running for reelection.
“Hearing from so many people from throughout our Commonwealth encouraging me to run for the United States Senate was deeply humbling and a testament to the strength of our movement,” Pressley said in a statement. “It would be an honor to serve the whole Commonwealth–but with our daughter in her last year at home before college and a district that has been in the crosshairs of this White House, I am certain that the Massachusetts 7th is where I belong in this moment.”
“That’s why I’m running for re-election to the House of Representatives–to continue building community, governing in close partnership and proximity to my constituents, and continue making progress for the district I’ve proudly represented for the past six years,” she said.
Pressley had signaled interest last month in potentially taking on Markey. In addition to challenging the veteran Democratic senator, she would also have had to run against Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) in the primary. A University of Massachusetts Amherst poll conducted in late October showed Markey with a significant advantage over any of his Democratic challengers.
Massachusetts’ other Democratic senator, Elizabeth Warren, said she was standing by Markey when asked last month about Pressley potentially entering the race.
“I’ve endorsed Ed,” Warren told JS. “He is a good partner and has worked hard and delivered on green energy and lowering families’ utility costs. That’s it.”
