Ed Markey
Edward John Markey (/ˈmɑːrki/ MAR-kee; born July 11, 1946) is an American lawyer, politician, and former Army reservist serving as the junior United States senator from Massachusetts since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served 20 terms (18 full, two partial) as the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district from 1976 to 2013. Before his congressional career, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976.
Ed Markey | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2013 | |
| United States Senator from Massachusetts | |
| Assumed office July 16, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Mo Cowan |
| Chair of the House Global Warming Committee | |
| In office March 8, 2007 – January 6, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts | |
| In office November 2, 1976 – July 15, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Torbert Macdonald |
| Succeeded by | Katherine Clark |
| Constituency | 7th district (1976–2013) 5th district (2013) |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | William R. Callahan |
| Succeeded by | Richard McGrath |
| Constituency | 16th Middlesex |
| In office January 3, 1975 – November 2, 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Dickson |
| Succeeded by | John C. McNeil |
| Constituency | 26th Middlesex |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward John Markey July 11, 1946 Malden, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Boston College (BA, JD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1968–1973 |
| Rank | Specialist Fourth Class |
In 2013, after John Kerry was appointed United States Secretary of State, Markey was elected to serve out the remainder of Kerry's Senate term in a 2013 special election. Markey defeated Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary and Republican Gabriel E. Gomez in the general election. He was elected to a full term in the Senate in 2014. Markey fended off a primary challenge from Joseph Kennedy III and was reelected in 2020 by a wide margin.
Markey is a progressive who has focused on climate change and energy policy and was chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2011. He is the Senate author of the Green New Deal. Markey is the dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, having served in Congress since 1976. His progressive policies have led to widespread support among young voters. The Hill has called him "an icon to Gen Z activists".