Biography
Overview
Edward Markey is a Democratic U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, serving since 2013. Born July 11, 1946, he previously served 20 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1976–2013) and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1973–1976). He holds a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from Boston College Law School. Markey is the dean of Massachusetts's congressional delegation and is known as a progressive focused on climate change, energy policy, and consumer protection.
Career
Markey authored the Green New Deal resolution with Representative Ocasio-Cortez, establishing himself as a leading voice on climate policy. In the House, he chaired the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming (2007–2011) and championed a 100% air cargo screening requirement for commercial passenger planes, signed into law in 2007. He has been an outspoken critic of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and has led efforts on animal welfare, vaccine equity, and drug policy reform. He voted in favor of the Iraq War authorization in 2002, later calling it a mistake.
Prior political experience
Markey first entered Congress in 1976 after winning a 12-candidate Democratic primary with 22% of the vote following incumbent Congressman Torbert Macdonald's death. He defeated Republican Richard Daly 77%–18% in both a special and general election that year. He was reelected 19 more times from Massachusetts's 7th (later 5th) District, with a low of 62% in 1992 and facing no Republican opposition in eight elections (1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2002, 2006). In 2013, he won a special election to fill John Kerry's Senate seat, defeating Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary and Gabriel Gomez in the general election. He was elected to a full six-year term in 2014 with 62% of the vote. In 2020, he defeated primary challenger Joseph Kennedy III with 55.6% of the vote and won the general election against Kevin O'Connor. He is currently running for reelection in 2026.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Ed Markey
No active campaigns target Ed Markey right now.
Start a campaign targeting Ed MarkeyOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | U.S. Senate MA Class 2 | 2021–present | In progress | Ed Markey | — |
| 2nd | U.S. Senate MA Class 2 | 2015–2021 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 1st | U.S. Senate MA Class 2 | 2013–2015 | Term ended | — | Ed Markey |
| 1st | U.S. House MA-5 | 2013–2013 | Term ended | — | Katherine M. Clark |
| 19th | U.S. House MA-7 | 2011–2013 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ayanna Pressley |
| 18th | U.S. House MA-7 | 2009–2011 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 17th | U.S. House MA-7 | 2007–2009 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 16th | U.S. House MA-7 | 2005–2007 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 15th | U.S. House MA-7 | 2003–2005 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 14th | U.S. House MA-7 | 2001–2003 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 13th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1999–2001 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 12th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1997–1999 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 11th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1995–1997 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 10th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1993–1995 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 9th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1991–1993 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 8th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1989–1991 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 7th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1987–1989 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 6th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1985–1987 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 5th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1983–1985 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 4th | U.S. House MA-7 | 1981–1983 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 3rd | U.S. House MA-7 | 1979–1981 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 2nd | U.S. House MA-7 | 1977–1979 | Term ended | Ed Markey | Ed Markey |
| 1st | U.S. House MA-7 | 1975–1977 | Term ended | — | Ed Markey |
Committee assignments
- Primary Health and Retirement SecuritySenateRanking Member· 2021–present
- SenateRanking Member· 2021–present
- Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory OversightSenate· 2021–present
- Transportation and InfrastructureSenate· 2021–present
- Senate· 2021–present
- Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and SafetySenate· 2021–present
- Senate· 2021–present
- Telecommunications and MediaSenate· 2021–present
- Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and SafetySenate· 2021–present
- Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data PrivacySenate· 2021–present
- Education and the American FamilySenate· 2021–present
- Senate· 2021–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- S. 2514
Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2476
Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2478
Freedom to Move Act
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2477
End Solitary Confinement Act
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2445
Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2025
Jul 24, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2451
Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act
Jul 24, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2422
ICBM Act
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2330
Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2340
Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2341
Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- S. 2524
Restoring Essential Healthcare Act
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2523
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2481
Pay Teachers Act
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2468
Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2444
End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025
Jul 24, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2407
Charting My Path for Future Success Act
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2377
EACH Act of 2025
Jul 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2383
CANADA Act
Jul 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2321
Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2350
Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Pending | — | — |