Congressman Joe Kennedy, long seen as a rising star, crashed to defeat Tuesday in his bid for a US Senate seat, the first time the storied American political dynasty lost a state election in Massachusetts.
Incumbent Senator Ed Markey, a political veteran who re-cast himself as the fiery liberal in the race, harnessed the state’s progressive energy to handily turn back a primary challenge from Joseph Kennedy III, the grandnephew of assassinated president John F. Kennedy.
The 39-year-old Kennedy said he called Markey “to congratulate him and to pledge my support” in the months ahead.”
With votes still being counted, Markey was leading around 55 percent to 44 percent.
The race pitted two well-liked progressives against each another, but it was Markey’s organizational energy and appeal to the ascendant left that won out over Kennedy.❐
