Ed Markey beats Joe Kennedy III in Democratic Senate primary, Internet says the Kennedy dynasty is dead
Edward J Markey, who rebranded himself from dutiful career politician to fierce progressive warrior over the course of an 11-month long campaign, won the Democratic primary for Senate on September 1, 2020, fending off a face-off from a much younger Representative Joseph P Kennedy III, who failed to win over Massachusetts voters.
Markley who is 74-year-old was fighting against 39-year-old Kennedy, led by 54 percent of the vote to Kennedy's 46 percent. Kennedy called Markey to concede the race just before the Associated Press announced the win, according to Deputy Communications Director Mike Cummings. At least $29 million was spent between the two candidates for the safe blue seat.
Voters renominated Markey, who has held a seat in Congress since the mid-1970s, over Kennedy, grandson of Robert F Kennedy, who attempted to take on a sitting senator rather than waiting up for a spot in the Democratic hierarchy to open up.
Markey delivered a victory speech with a theme of justice, which included issues like racial justice, climate justice and justice in concern with marginalized groups. Apart from that, he also focused on the hope he holds for the younger generation of Massachusetts. "They will save us, if we trust them," Markey said. "It is a reaffirmation of the need to have a movement, a progressive movement, of young people demanding radical change, demanding justice. A movement giving voice and power to young people when for far too long they were ignored."
"It’s all Markey. He got up off the mat after the first punch and fought like hell. It was his energy, his vision, his canniness,” Mark Horan, a Democratic strategist who has worked for Markey on past campaigns told Boston Globe.
As soon as the result was announced, people started celebrating Markey's victory on social media, as one user said, "The Kennedy dynasty is dead and the Green New Deal is alive." Another user made fun and said, "Joe Kennedy and Jeb Bush starting a “I was so shitty that I ended my own family’s political dynasty” support group."
The Kennedy dynasty is dead and the Green New Deal is alive.
— Gravel Institute (@GravelInstitute) September 2, 2020
Joe Kennedy and Jeb Bush starting a “I was so shitty that I ended my own family’s political dynasty” support group
— Abby Govindan (@abbygov) September 2, 2020
While some gave a warning saying, "I hope the lesson for Democrats is clear after Markey landslided Kennedy Dont make an enemy of AOC." Another user stated facts by saying, "The Kennedy Dynasty has suffered its first ever loss in Massachusetts. By the combat rules of old, Joe Kennedy III's claims to wealth, land, and family name are now forfeit to Ed Markey. Also this clip, from CloneHigh, of a clone of his Grand Uncle JFK."
I hope the lesson for Democrats is clear after Markey landslided Kennedy
— Nancy Pelosi Tanked Joe Kennedy's Campaign 🥋 (@SocialistMMA) September 2, 2020
Dont make an enemy of AOC
The Kennedy Dynasty has suffered its first ever loss in Massachusetts. By the combat rules of old, Joe Kennedy III's claims to wealth, land, and family name are now forfeit to Ed Markey. Also this clip, from CloneHigh, of a clone of his Grand Uncle JFK https://t.co/GNuawIQpm6
— Thomas Harkins (@BraggingRightz) September 2, 2020
While some remembered Nancy Pelosi's statement and said, "Joe Kennedy is the future of the Democratic Party” -Nancy Pelosi This is objectively false. Joe Kennedy represented the past. He ran his campaign as if it was 1992. We’re in 2020. And Ed Markey realized that. The center is not the future The LEFT is," and "Maybe Nancy Pelosi will finally stop denigrating progressives. We hope she will see our value. We are tired of being painted by her as some "angry Twitter users" and start thinking about how to engage us. We are where the party is going and there is great passion there!"
“Joe Kennedy is the future of the Democratic Party” -Nancy Pelosi
— Adam E Ross (@adammanross) September 2, 2020
This is objectively false. Joe Kennedy represented the past. He ran his campaign as if it was 1992.
We’re in 2020. And Ed Markey realized that.
The center is not the future
The LEFT is. https://t.co/zDIDnaZ5NX pic.twitter.com/LZRwSwdbxc
Maybe Nancy Pelosi will finally stop denigrating progressives. We hope she will see our value. We are tired of being painted by her as some "angry twitter users" and start thinking about how to engage us. We are where the party is going and there is great passion there!
— Unapologetically Progressive (@Nile_Wanderer) September 2, 2020
Markey who did an extraordinarily successful election campaign was praised, whereas Joe Kennedy was slammed for poor virtual campaign, as one user commented, "Joe 3 thought that running ads with RFK and JFK in them would win for him. For many, like me, it was a total turn off. He was not those folks and simply being a descendant means nothing. Waving them in front of those that loved them was very offensive," another one said, "To be fair, by many accounts, Kennedy was the favorite back when he was announcing his run. COVID, campaign missteps down the stretch alongside an absence of new ideas or an inspired campaign IMO swayed the election back to the 'safer' incumbent."
Maybe Nancy Pelosi will finally stop denigrating progressives. We hope she will see our value. We are tired of being painted by her as some "angry twitter users" and start thinking about how to engage us. We are where the party is going and there is great passion there!
— Unapologetically Progressive (@Nile_Wanderer) September 2, 2020
To be fair, by many accounts, Kennedy was the favorite back when he was announcing his run. COVID, campaign missteps down the stretch alongside an absence of new ideas or an inspired campaign IMO swayed the election back to the “safer” incumbent. pic.twitter.com/9trKwJpLAm
— #WashYourHands (@diegofellows) September 2, 2020