Pelosi’s signing could be a major injury for Kennedy as the race has come closer in recent weeks, with interviews showing that he and Markey, who have served Pelosi alongside him for more than two decades in the House, in a bond bound under the leadership of the Sept. 1st.
However, Pelosi’s movement shocked Capitol Hill a lot and put her on direct chances with her close ally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), whose campaign arm of the Senate is designed to protect vulnerable officials like Markey . The speaker rarely ventures into democratic primary contests, especially in favor of the challenger.
A Pelosi aide said Kennedy did not ask for the distinction. But Pelosi felt compelled to bet on the race, seeing Kennedy’s efforts in 2018, “which was essential to the Democrats’ successful efforts to win the majority,” the aide said.
Pelosi was also concerned after Markey’s campaign began to increase the Kennedy name attacks, following “Joe, his family, his supporters and the legacy of the Kennedy family policy,” the aide added.
“With all due respect, it’s time to start asking what your country can do for you,” Markey said wisely at the end of one ad, quoting from the famous quote from Kennedy’s great uncle, President John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy responded with a keynote speech earlier this week, flanked by Black community leaders, defending his family and accusing Markey of efforts for racial equality during his political career.
“We are, again, in a moment of deep racial reckoning. And we deserve a senator who will not stand by,” he said. Kennedy said.
Markey and Pelosi have a long-standing relationship after working together for decades during his nearly 40-year term in the House of Representatives. Pelosi even appointed Markey to chair a select House committee on climate change in 2007.
But Kennedy has been loyal to Pelosi since joining the House in 2013, often working behind the scenes to find ways for new members to join caucus leadership instead of moving to oust Pelosi, as some of his fellow classmates. Kennedy was a key asset to Pelosi in 2018, and used his sway in the caucus to build support for Pelosi’s second term as a speaker at a time when many others were asking her to resign.
Markey tweeted on Thursday that Pelosi “is an effective leader who has shattered glass ceilings throughout her career,” adding, “every candidate would be proud of their distinction. I congratulate Joe Kennedy on securing her support.”
Pelosi donated $ 5,000 to Kennedy’s campaign earlier this month through her super PAC. She also donated $ 5000 to Markey’s campaign last year.
Pelosi’s endorsement has prompted many progressives, who are facing rising opposition from the Democratic establishment, as they have launched their own primary challenges against sitting members.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.), who has supported many primary challenger against Democrats since her own rebellious campaign in 2018, said Pelosi’s Kennedy support for Markey went against the party’s long policy against supporting challengers , which she said “seems less like a policy and more an activity for cherry picking.”
“Nobody gets to complain about primary challenges again,” tweeted Ocasio-Cortez.
The New York Democrat has been a vocal supporter of Markey – who is the leading co-sponsor of the House of Representatives on her Green New Deal proposal – and has helped rally her own massive supporter base behind the 74-year-old.
Justice Democrats, who have helped thank the rise of Ocasio-Cortez and many other progressive challengers, released a blistering statement accusing Pelosi of double standards.
“This movement stems from hypocrisy,” the group wrote in a statement. “The party sets one standard for progressives and one completely different standard for its establishment.”
Democratic campaign leaders redoubled efforts in the 2020 election cycle to protect officials from left-wing threats, and tried to surprise fearful party members who saw Ocasio-Cortez overthrow Joe Crowley, who was seen as a linebacker to be a potential speaker. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began implementing policies such as a ‘blacklist’ for outside groups that set back primary challenger.
House Democrats have argued that their invasion protection policies are maintained only in their races and not passed on to the Senate.
Several other Democratic founders – most notably House Speaker Eliot Engel (DN.Y.) – have also been fired by Liberal challengers this year. Earlier this month, Longtime Rep. Also lost. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) A primary challenge, and fell to Cori Bush, a senior candidate Bernie Sanders.
