Ed Markey's climate chops may be critical in Joe Kennedy challenge
Edward J. Markey’s best chance of staving off a challenge to his Senate seat from a scion of the Kennedy family may lay with emphasizing his marquee issue: climate change.
Rep. Joe Kennedy III's announcement Saturday that he is seeking the Massachusetts seat pits the 73-year-old incumbent against a 38-year-old grandson of Robert Kennedy and great-nephew of John F. Kennedy. Like many other Democratic primary challengers, Kennedy is calling for a new generation of leaders for the sake of the party's future. In a video sent to supporters, Kennedy promised to take on “outdated structures and old rules," Karen Weintraub and Colby Itkowitz report for The Post.
But Markey, who has served in Congress for longer than Kennedy has been alive, brings a twist to the debate on generational change. He is viewed by many in Washington and Massachusetts as a major advocate on Capitol Hill for efforts to combat climate change, an issue young voters view as one of their generation’s greatest challenges.
“There's no greater champion in the United States Congress — House or Senate — than Ed Markey on this issue,” said Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, which endorsed Markey and is directing its members to donate to his campaign.
But Kennedy could be a formidable challenge: A recent Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll gives Kennedy a 14-point lead over Markey, with 29 percent of respondents undecided.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-energy-202/2019/09/23/the-energy-202-ed-markey-s-climate-change-chops-may-be-critical-in-joe-kennedy-challenge/5d87c3a8602ff1737aef7369/
= new reply since forum marked as read
