Progressive Bowman endorses Markey ahead of Massachusetts primary

New York Democratic House candidate Jamaal Bowman endorsed Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in the Massachusetts primary Tuesday, the latest figure in the party’s progressive wing to lend Markey their support against challenger Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.).

Bowman, who beat veteran congressman and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.) in New York’s June primary, touted the announcement as his “first-ever U.S. Senate endorsement.”

“The political establishment is running negative attack ads to stop Ed & we need to get his back,” Bowman tweeted Tuesday, urging followers to split a donation between himself and the Massachusetts senator.

I’m proud to make my first-ever U.S. Senate endorsement for @EdMarkey the #GreenNewDealmaker!

But the political establishment is running negative attack ads to stop Ed & we need to get his back.

Please split a donation between our campaigns right now! https://t.co/daTJL4RpHO

— Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) August 18, 2020

“Senator Markey is a critical leader of our movement, inspiring voters in Massachusetts and beyond. He has always been a champion for the people, fighting to achieve a more progressive future through policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal,” Bowman said in a statement. “Senator Markey and I are allies and I can’t wait to serve alongside him in Congress come January.”

Markey, who introduced the Senate version of the Green New Deal environmental legislation, has received endorsements from several progressive Democrats already. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have both endorsed him, as have figures associated with the party’s establishment wing such as Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Several of Kennedy’s House colleagues, however, have endorsed his primary challenger, including Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) and the late John Lewis (D-Ga.).

Bowman has supported Markey in the past. Earlier this month, Bowman tweeted, “Yooo, @EdMarkey is a Triple OG. I can’t wait to get to Congress and work with this brother.”

Yooo, @EdMarkey is a Triple OG. I can’t wait to get to Congress and work with this brother. https://t.co/i8yvx0DQNs

— Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) August 13, 2020

Massachusetts residents will vote on Sept. 1 in the Democratic primary. The winner will go on to compete in the general election on Nov. 3.