Markey fundraises ahead of Kennedy primary challenge

Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-Mass.) campaign released a fundraising email on Friday ahead of Rep. Joe Kennedy III’s (D-Mass.) announcement that he will launch a primary challenge against the senator on Saturday. 

“It’s official: Joe Kennedy III will challenge Ed Markey in the primary,” the fundraising email noted.

“Ed has never backed down from fights that define our times,” it added, before asking for a $27 donation. 

{mosads}The campaign said in the email that they set a fundraising goal of $50,000 ahead of the next Federal Election Committee deadline at the end of the month. 

The incumbent senator’s team highlighted his record on climate change, including his work on the Green New Deal, gun legislation and health care. 

He also touted his ties to progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and fellow Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) in the email. 

A source confirmed to The Hill earlier this week that Kennedy, who is the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, will announce his run on Saturday. 

While Kennedy has been seen as a rising Democratic star, a number of young progressive insurgents have declined to throw their support behind him. 

Ocasio-Cortez touted her support for Markey on Twitter last week, calling him a “progressive champion,” while Warren has endorsed Markey, despite having a close relationship with Kennedy. 

Meanwhile, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Seth Moulton (Mass.) and Eric Swalwell (Calif.) have said they are staying out of the race, while Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has thrown his support behind Markey.