Candidate · November 3, 2026
Edward J. Markey
On the ballot for U.S. Senate · Massachusetts
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $6.0M
- cash on hand
- $800K
- issues with public statements
- 16
- outside spending for or against
- $3.4M
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. Senate · Massachusetts1, |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Democratic1, |
| Status | Incumbent — Currently serves as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts.3 |
| Also on the ballot |
|
§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Ed Markey grew up in Malden, Massachusetts, graduated from Malden Catholic High School, attended Boston College and then Boston College Law School.4 He ran for the Massachusetts House of Representatives during his third year of law school, served there, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976.4 He was elected to the U.S. Senate in a 2013 special election.4
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says that with freedoms under attack and costs rising, he is working to lower costs, expand opportunity, protect people's rights and build a safer, more sustainable future.5
Service in Congress since 2023
- 2021–nowU.S. Senator, MA3
Websites and accounts
- Official websitemarkey.senate.gov3
- X (Twitter)x.com/SenMarkey6
- Facebookfacebook.com/EdJMarkey6
- YouTubeyoutube.com/RepMarkey6
- Instagraminstagram.com/senmarkeymemes6
- Campaign websiteedmarkey.com7,
8 - Facebookfacebook.com/EdMarkeyforMA8
- X (Twitter)twitter.com/EdMarkey8
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Health Care
His campaign website says he supports a national Medicare for All program and letting states build universal health care systems with federal support, and lists him as an original cosponsor of the Medicare for All Act.9
- One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
- Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy
- Keep the current mix of private and public coverage, including the ACA
- Fewer federal insurance rules and more private plan choices, with aid paid to individuals
Social Security and Medicare
His campaign website says he would expand Medicare to add dental, vision and hearing benefits.9
- Keep current coverage, under which some private Medicare Advantage plans offer these benefits
- Add some of these benefits, such as hearing aids, to traditional Medicare
- Add dental, vision and hearing coverage to traditional Medicare
Energy and Climate
His campaign website says he is fighting offshore oil drilling and working to protect public lands and waters, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, from oil and gas development.10
Infrastructure and Transportation
His campaign website says he would invest in transit, walking, biking and passenger rail and support fare-free public transit programs.10
His campaign website says he is fighting to expand public transit and passenger rail.10
- Expand funding for passenger rail, including new high-speed lines
- Fund repairs and current routes, without major new lines
- Cut federal rail funding or move Amtrak toward private operation
Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties
His campaign website says he is working to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment, housing, health care and education under federal law, and lists him as an original cosponsor of the Equality Act.11
- Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
- Add protections with broad exemptions for religious groups and businesses
- No new federal protections; leave it to the states
Immigration
His campaign website says he was the first U.S. senator to call for abolishing ICE.11
- Abolish ICE and move any remaining enforcement work to other agencies
- Deport only people convicted of serious crimes or who threaten national security
- Focus on people with criminal records and recent border crossers
- Deport as many people here without legal permission as possible, with or without criminal records
His campaign website says he would expand refugee admissions so the United States remains a safe haven for people fleeing persecution.11
- Pause most refugee admissions
- Keep a low ceiling, such as the 17,500 set for 2027
- Return to higher ceilings, such as the 125,000 set for 2025
His campaign website says he advocates a pathway to legal residency for Dreamers.11
Crime, Policing and Prisons
His campaign website says he would end qualified immunity so people can hold law enforcement responsible in court when their constitutional rights are violated, and lists him as lead sponsor of the Ending Qualified Immunity Act and the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026.11,
- End qualified immunity for police officers
- Keep qualified immunity as courts apply it now
- Write qualified immunity into federal law
Guns
His campaign website says he would ban the sale, manufacture and transfer of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and lists him as an original cosponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025.12
- Ban the sale of these rifles
- Keep sales legal, with added limits such as a minimum buying age of 21
- No bans or added limits on these rifles
His campaign website says he would ban the online distribution of gun blueprints and close what it calls a loophole that lets 3D-printed guns be sold and carried without serial numbers.12
- Tighten rules, such as registering pistols with stabilizing braces and requiring serial numbers and background checks for all gun kits and parts
- Keep current rules
- Loosen rules, such as ending federal registration for suppressors and short-barreled rifles
Economy, Jobs and Trade
His campaign website says he supports a higher minimum wage and eliminating subminimum wages.13
Family and Social Policy
His campaign website says he would expand the child tax credit.13
His campaign website says he would protect and expand nutrition programs and keep SNAP and WIC benefits flowing during government funding lapses.13
- Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility
- Keep the program as changed in 2025
- Tighten eligibility and work rules further
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says the ultra-wealthy should pay their fair share and lists him as an original cosponsor of the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026 and the Billionaires Income Tax Act.13
§4Popular bills that never got a vote
Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.
While Edward J. Markey served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Edward J. Markey sponsored or cosponsored 10 of the 50. How bills die without a vote.
See all 50
- Requires sanctions and tariffs if Russia refuses peace talks with Ukraine or invades again (S. 1241, 119th Congress · 84 cosponsors)14Cosponsored
- Lets combat-disabled military retirees receive full retired pay and disability pay (S. 1032, 119th Congress · 80 cosponsors)15Cosponsored
- Lets combat-disabled veterans with under 20 years' service get full retirement pay (S. 344, 118th Congress · 74 cosponsors)16Cosponsored
- Permanently expands Medicare coverage of telehealth services (S. 1261, 119th Congress · 73 cosponsors)17Cosponsored
- Renews the repair-backlog fund for national parks and other public lands (S. 1547, 119th Congress · 70 cosponsors)18Cosponsored
- Requires AM radio as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles (S. 1669, 118th Congress · 62 cosponsors)19Sponsored
- Lets surviving military and veteran spouses who remarry keep certain benefits (S. 410, 119th Congress · 61 cosponsors)20Cosponsored
- Requires health plans to cover birth defect care for the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth or jaw (S. 1677, 119th Congress · 54 cosponsors)21Cosponsored
- Expands federal support for community development lenders, including Native lenders (S. 3940, 119th Congress · 53 cosponsors)22Cosponsored
- Bars insurer bias against living organ donors; counts recovery for job-protected leave (S. 1384, 118th Congress · 43 cosponsors)23Cosponsored
- Sets prior authorization standards for Medicare Advantage plans (S. 1816, 119th Congress · 71 cosponsors)24Did not cosponsor
- Adds Medicare coverage of tests that screen for many types of cancer, starting in 2028 (S. 339, 119th Congress · 68 cosponsors)25Did not cosponsor
- Permanently expands Medicare coverage of telehealth services (S. 2016, 118th Congress · 65 cosponsors)26Did not cosponsor
- Allows Medicare to cover FDA-approved tests that screen for many types of cancer (S. 2085, 118th Congress · 64 cosponsors)27Did not cosponsor
- Gives new-car dealers more time to restock inventory under a tax accounting method (S. 443, 118th Congress · 63 cosponsors)28Did not cosponsor
- Sets electronic prior-approval and reporting rules for Medicare Advantage plans (S. 4532, 118th Congress · 59 cosponsors)29Did not cosponsor
- Adds Medicare coverage of early Alzheimer's screening tests starting in 2028 (S. 3267, 119th Congress · 57 cosponsors)30Did not cosponsor
- Bans connected vehicles and parts tied to China, Russia, Iran or North Korea (S. 4429, 119th Congress · 57 cosponsors)31Did not cosponsor
- Sets criminal penalties for charging unauthorized fees to help with VA benefit claims (S. 740, 118th Congress · 55 cosponsors)32Did not cosponsor
- Requires employer health plans to offer exceptions to step therapy drug rules (S. 2903, 119th Congress · 52 cosponsors)33Did not cosponsor
- Bars insurance discrimination against living organ donors and clarifies their leave rights (S. 1552, 119th Congress · 50 cosponsors)34Did not cosponsor
- Limits VA cuts to payment rates for ambulances and other special transportation (S. 2757, 118th Congress · 49 cosponsors)35Did not cosponsor
- Adds military spouses to the groups covered by the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (S. 596, 118th Congress · 49 cosponsors)36Did not cosponsor
- Requires health plans to offer exceptions to step-therapy drug rules (S. 652, 118th Congress · 48 cosponsors)37Did not cosponsor
- Raises the railroad track maintenance tax credit and updates which track qualifies (S. 1532, 119th Congress · 48 cosponsors)38Did not cosponsor
- Lowers U.S. taxes on Taiwan residents if Taiwan gives Americans similar treatment (S. 199, 119th Congress · 48 cosponsors)39Did not cosponsor
- Has education civil rights officials consider a specific definition of antisemitism (S. 558, 119th Congress · 47 cosponsors)40Did not cosponsor
- Restores immediate tax deductions for research costs and expands startup research credits (S. 866, 118th Congress · 43 cosponsors)41Did not cosponsor
- Authorizes stillbirth research, data collection and public education programs (S. 2647, 118th Congress · 41 cosponsors)42Did not cosponsor
- Expands and revises the low-income housing tax credit for affordable rentals (S. 1515, 119th Congress · 41 cosponsors)43Did not cosponsor
- Funds state stillbirth data collection and federal stillbirth guidelines (S. 2858, 119th Congress · 41 cosponsors)44Did not cosponsor
- Lets surviving military and veteran spouses who remarry keep certain benefits (S. 1266, 118th Congress · 40 cosponsors)45Did not cosponsor
- Expands tax breaks and federal support for employee ownership of S corporations (S. 2515, 118th Congress · 40 cosponsors)46Did not cosponsor
- Adds military spouses to the tax credit for hiring workers from targeted groups (S. 1027, 119th Congress · 39 cosponsors)47Did not cosponsor
- Expands and extends the military's authority to counter drone threats through 2030 (S. 1793, 119th Congress · 39 cosponsors)48Did not cosponsor
- Creates a White House coordinator and task force to counter antisemitism (S. 4091, 118th Congress · 38 cosponsors)49Did not cosponsor
- Lowers Medicare drug plan costs and limits for non-opioid pain medicines (S. 475, 119th Congress · 36 cosponsors)50Did not cosponsor
- Expands and renames the low-income housing tax credit (S. 1557, 118th Congress · 34 cosponsors)51Did not cosponsor
- Funds two federal diabetes programs, including one for Native Americans, through 2027 (S. 2211, 119th Congress · 34 cosponsors)52Did not cosponsor
- Adds permanent Medicare coverage of pharmacist testing and treatment for common infections (S. 2426, 119th Congress · 33 cosponsors)53Did not cosponsor
- Expands tax deferral and federal support for employee ownership of S corporations (S. 2461, 119th Congress · 33 cosponsors)54Did not cosponsor
- Adds a presentation on VA benefits to military transition counseling (S. 3938, 119th Congress · 32 cosponsors)55Did not cosponsor
- Expands U.S.-Israel military cooperation on counter-drone and emerging technology (S. 554, 119th Congress · 32 cosponsors)56Did not cosponsor
- Creates a federal data system on college students' enrollment, costs and outcomes (S. 1349, 118th Congress · 31 cosponsors)57Did not cosponsor
- Funds SNAP food assistance benefits during a lapse in fiscal 2026 Agriculture funding (S. 3024, 119th Congress · 31 cosponsors)58Did not cosponsor
- Expands and extends federal and local authority to detect and stop threatening drones (S. 1631, 118th Congress · 30 cosponsors)59Did not cosponsor
- Makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable (S. 2895, 118th Congress · 30 cosponsors)60Did not cosponsor
- Sets federal criminal penalties for illicit use of xylazine, an animal sedative (S. 993, 118th Congress · 30 cosponsors)61Did not cosponsor
- Adds Medicare payment for pharmacist testing and treatment of flu, COVID-19 and more (S. 2477, 118th Congress · 29 cosponsors)62Did not cosponsor
- Expands tech company reporting duties and victim remedies for online child sexual abuse (S. 1829, 119th Congress · 29 cosponsors)63Did not cosponsor
§5Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.64
| Raised | $5,985,385 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $6,996,160 |
| Cash on hand | $799,913 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $42,917 supporting and $3,329,005 opposing Edward J. Markey this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through August 31, 2026.65
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| ADVANCE PROGRESS | — | $3,329,005 |
| NRDC Action Votes | $25,000 | — |
| National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee | $17,917 | — |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.
§6Financial disclosures
Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.
Senate candidates and senators file with the Senate's own disclosure system, which asks each visitor to agree to its terms before searching, so we can't link straight to a filing. You can search for Edward J. Markey at efdsearch.senate.gov66.