Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey may face a grueling primary fight to keep his seat should Rep. Joe Kennedy decide to challenge him.
A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released Sunday shows the 38-year-old Kennedy leading the 73-year-old Markey 35% to 26% in a race between possible primary contenders. The other three primary challengers polled no higher than 1%, according to the Boston Globe.
In a head-to-head matchup, Kennedy’s advantage grows even larger into a 14-point lead over the septuagenarian senator; Kennedy leads 42% to 28%, with 29% undecided.
Markey boasts a favorability rating of 59% in Massachusetts. Many voters seem to be attracted to the younger Kennedy, however, because of his dynastic name and his youth. The Kennedy name is seen positively by 64% of Massachusetts voters and the representative himself is viewed favorably by 73%.
“Markey has been in Congress since the 1970s and not much has happened on this side of the state,” said LaMar Cook, a 38-year-old Democrat running for city council seat in Springfield. “I think a lot of folks, especially in the western part of the state, consider him an empty seat.”
