Ed Markey Massachusetts

US Senate In Great Flux As Fall Elections Arrive!

Ronald 11 Comments

The United States Senate is in great flux as the Midterm Elections of 2026 arrive in less than four months.

Turnover will be massive:

11 Senators are retiring.

2 Senators have been defeated for renomination.

1 Senator (Lindsey Graham) just passed away.

Seven other Senators running for reelection face the possibility of losing their seat, 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats.

Dan Sullivan in Alaska (R)
Ashley Moody in Florida (R)
Jon Ossoff in Georgia (D)
Susan Collins in Maine (R)
Ed Markey in Massachusetts (D)
Pete Ricketts in Nebraska (R)
Jon Husted in Ohio (R)

Additionally, with Republican Senator Mitch McConnell still in recovery from a fall and a bout with pneumonia, and with Lindsey Graham’s passing creating a void on key Senate committees, plus the opposition of several Republican Senators to some Donald Trump agenda items, it is unlikely that what the White House wants will occur in the three and a half months until the midterms.

Senators John Cornyn of Texas, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky when he returns to the Senate, are all “wild cards” that make major actions unlikely.

Also, the fact of Lindsey Graham’s death opens up the possibility that his South Carolina Senate seat might be a possible gain for Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews.

Many Octogenarian US Senators, With Need For Younger Generation Entering The US Senate!

Ronald 8 Comments

It is disturbing that the US Senate now has more Octogenarian members than ever before, even though some are retiring:

Dick Durbin of Illinois
Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky

However, the following Octogenarians remain in the Senate:

Peter Welch of Vermont 79–will reach 80 in May 2027
Ed Markey of Massachusetts 80
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut 80
Angus King of Maine 82
Jim Risch of Idaho 83
Bernie Sanders of Vermont 84
Chuck Grassley of Iowa 92

Markey and Risch are running for reelection in 2026, while the others come up for reelection in 2028, except King and Sanders who have their seats until 2030.

Interestingly, of these ten Senators listed above, two are Independents (King and Sanders); three are Republicans (McConnell, Risch, Grassley); and the remaining five are Democrats (Durbin, Shaheen, Welch, Markey, Blumenthal).

Also of interest, six of the ten Senators are from New England—Shaheen, Welch, Markey, Blumenthal, King, and Sanders—with that section of the nation having the overall oldest average age population.

It is essential that a younger generation of US Senators are elected to the chamber, and there are many inspiring potential Senators who are in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s, as outlined in this blogger’s entry on June 30, 2026!

Prospect Of Young Senate Democrats After Midterm Elections Of 2026

Ronald 51 Comments

A “Youth Movement” seems likely after the Midterm Elections of 2026, with the prospect of new and young Democrats joining the US Senate.

If things go well, we could have the following new Democratic or Independent US Senators in their late 30s, 40s, or early 50s:

Alaska–Mary Peltola
Florida–Alex Vindman
Iowa–Josh Turek
Kentucky–Charles Booker
Maine–Graham Platner
Massachusetts–Seth Moulton (if Octogenarian Ed Markey is defeated in September 1 primary)
Michigan–Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, or Haley Stevens after August 4 primary
Minnesota–Peggy Flanagan or Angie Craig after August 11 primary
Montana–Seth Bodnar (Independent)
Nebraska–Dan Osborn (Independent)
New Hampshire–Chris Pappas
South Carolina–Annie Andrews
Texas–James Talarico

In reality, the “best” bets are in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, all Democratic states presently–and hopefully, Alaska, Florida, Iowa, and Texas, with possibilities in Montana and Nebraska with Independent contenders. Kentucky and South Carolina are real “long shots” at this point.

Add to this list the following Democratic US Senators who are part of the “Youth Movement”:

Arizona–Ruben Gallego
California–Alex Padilla
Connecticut–Chris Murphy
Georgia–Jon Ossoff, only sitting Democrat running for reelection this year of this “Youth Movement”
Hawaii–Brian Schatz
Michigan–Elissa Slotkin
New Jersey–Andy Kim

Roy Cooper in North Carolina and Sherrod Brown in Ohio are NOT part of the youth movement, but also have a good opportunity to put their states in the Democratic Senate column in November.

New York 12th Congressional District: Can Jack Schlossberg Revive The Kennedy Family History?

Ronald 14 Comments

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23, the 12th Congressional District of New York State, covering Midtown Manhattan, the Upper West Side, and the upper East Side, and the smallest and most population dense Congressional District in America by area in the United States, will elect a new Democratic member of the House of Representatives. It is among the wealthiest and oldest districts in the nation, and has the most college graduates, and a very large percentage of Jewish voters. All the major television and cable news networks, along with the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal are based there.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler is retiring after serving since 1992, and the fight for the seat, guaranteed to the Democrats, involves four major contenders, with the most attention being paid to Jack Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy, and the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy.

However, it seems likely that Micah Lasher, endorsed by Nadler, or Alex Bores, who is promoting AI regulation, will win the primary, as polls show the main battle between them, with Schlossberg, with little work or government experience, way behind.

There is also former Republican George Conway, who divorced his wife KellyAnne Conway, over her involvement with Donald Trump after the first year of the first Trump term, who is running as a Democrat, wanting to work to remove Donald Trump, a basically lost cause, but Conway is adding publicity to the race.

In the present circumstances, the Kennedy “Mystique” seems unlikely to be revived, as two Kennedys lost elections in recent years:

Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (2013-2021) lost US Senate primary to Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts in 2020.

Christopher G. Kennedy lost the 2018 Illinois Democratic Primary for Governor to JD Pritzker.

But when it comes to the Kennedy name, one cannot be sure what the results of the upcoming primary will be.

So Tuesday’s New York State primaries will be fascinating to watch.

Major US Senate Turnover Coming In 120th Congress (2027-2029)

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The nation will witness a major US Senate turnover in the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This would be due to retirements, primary defeats, potential election defeats, and 4 Senators running for Governor.

For now, the following is certain:

The following 11 US Senators are retiring:

Republican Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, running for Governor
Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois
Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa
Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan
Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota
Republican Steve Daines of Montana
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Republican Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, appointed temprarily to replace Markwayne Mullin
Republican Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming

The following two US Senators were defeated in primaries:

Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Republican John Cornyn of Texas

The following seven US Senators are endangered for reelection:

Republican Dan Sullivan of Alaska, challenged by Mary Peltola
Republican Ashley Moody of Florida, challenged by Alex Vindman
Democrat Jon Ossoff of Georgia, challenged by Republican nominee
Republican Susan Collins of Maine, challenged by Graham Platner
Democrat Ed Markey of Massachusetts, challenged by Seth Moulton in primary
Republican Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, challenged by Independent Dan Osborn
Republican Jon Husted of Ohio, challenged by former Senator Sherrod Brown

Likely gains for Democrats seem possible or likely in

Alaska, North Carolina (open seat), Maine, Ohio, and with outside chances in Texas (open seat), Iowa (open seat), Montana (open seat), and Florida.

But Republicans have possibilities in Georgia, Michigan (open seat), and New Hampshire (open seat).

Also, the following US Senators are running for Governors of their states, and if elected, would resign from the Senate, and a replacement would be appointed or elected:

Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado
Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Republican Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

IF all of the above were to occur, the maximum number of new US Senators, either by election or appointment for replacements, could reach the mid 20s in number.

Imagining about 20 new Senators as a minimum, is very likely to occur!

US Senators 70 And Over: Most Ever!

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The US Senate has 16 members over 75, more than ever before in US History.

They include:

Chuck Grassley (R) Iowa—92
Bernie Sanders (I) Vermont—84
Jim Risch (R) Idaho—83
Angus King (I) Maine—82
Richard Blumenthal (D) Connecticut—80
Ed Markey (D) Massachusetts—79
Peter Welch (D) Vermont—78
Mazie Hirono (D) Hawaii—78
Jack Reed (D) Rhode Island—76
Elizabeth Warren (D) Massachusetts (76)
Ron Wyden (D) Oregon—76
Patty Murray (D) Washington—75
Chuck Schumer (D) New York—75
John Boozman (R) Arkansas—75
Deb Fischer (R) Nebraska—75
Jim Justice (R) West Virginia—75

Risch, Markey, and Reed are running for reelection this fall, which means they would be in their early to late 80s over the next six years term.

This list does not include the following, who are retiring at the end of this year:

Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky—84
Dick Durbin (D) Illinois—81
Jeanne Shaheen (D) New Hampshire—79

And there are four US Senators who range from age 70-75, and will be in the high 70s during their term if reelected this fall.

Susan Collins (R) Maine
John Cornyn (R) Texas
Shelley Moore Capito (R) West Virginia
Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina

So one fifth of the US Senate (20), not counting the three Senators who are retiring, fit the definition of “senior citizens”, over the age of 70!

Nine are Republicans, nine are Democrats, and there are two Independents (Sanders and King)

Clearly, there is a dire need for a “youth movement” in the US Senate, as well as in the House of Representatives!

The Age Issue In Congress

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A total of 24 members of Congress in 2026 are over the age of 80, and 13 of them are planning to remain in Congress, if the voters agree in this upcoming Midterm Election of 2026.

Among those leaving are:

Nancy Pelosi of California, former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, age 85
Steny Hoyer of Maryland, former Democratic House Majority Leader, age 86
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, former Republican Senate Majority Leader, age 84
Dick Durbin of Illinois, Senate Democratic Whip, age 81

Among those 80 or over who are remaining in Congress, and are running for reelection are:

James Clyburn of South Carolina, former Democratic House Whip, age 85
Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Republican Congresswoman, age 82
Maxine Waters of California, Democratic Congresswoman, age 87
Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democratic Senator, age 84
Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Republican Senate President Pro Tempore, age 92
Jim Risch of Idaho, Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, age 82
Angus King of Maine, Independent Senator, age 82
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic Senator, age 80
Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Democratic Senator, age 80

While age alone should not be the only factor in judging who should be in Congress at an advanced age, it is perceived that Congress, overall, is out of touch with the vast number of Americans of younger generations!