Edward Markey — Democrat Candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, 2026

Senator Edward Markey strongly advocates for the abolition of ICE and has stated his intention to vote against any appropriations bill providing funding to the Department of Homeland Security, believing such funding supports "murder." He champions due process for immigrants, introducing the SHIELD Act to ensure legal representation in immigration proceedings. Markey also supports a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and other immigrants, and opposes the use of the National Guard for immigration enforcement.

““Anyone who supports funding DHS and ICE is supporting the murder of Americans,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) during the ICE Out for Good Protest on January 13, 2026.”

Senator Edward Markey supports a single-payer "Medicare for All" health insurance system, believing healthcare is a right. He advocates for expanding Medicare to include comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing care. Markey introduced legislation to expand the public health nursing workforce and has fought to protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. He also voted against the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, stating it prioritized military spending over healthcare, and supports gender-affirming care.

““The Defense budget is the Trump administration’s ironclad commitment to put warfare over health care,” said Senator Markey. “Trump is conducting an illegal war against Venezuela, deploying National Guard troops against our own people, and starting a new global nuclear arms race. All the while, Trump and MAGA Republicans are stealing health care from American families to give tax breaks to these gold-plated defense contractors. We don’t need more bombs, bloated budgets, or boat strikes. We need to fire Secretary of War Crimes Hegseth. We need Oil Tanker Pirate Trump to walk the plank. We need more Medicaid—not more missiles. [...] “Year after year, Congress continues to expand military spending—which now, for the first time ever, tops $1 trillion. That is a betrayal of the country’s future and a complete disregard for the real security needs of the American people – education, health care, housing, clean energy. We are denying investments in the programs that will truly build a safer, healthier future for working and middle-class families. The cost of passing this budget in the form of denied rights and wasteful, dangerous spending is simply too great.” (Edward J. Markey, press release, December 17, 2025)”

Senator Edward Markey voted against the 2026 Minibus Appropriations Package, citing its failure to safeguard offshore wind, public health, and clean energy initiatives. He co-authored the 2009 Waxman-Markey Act, proposing to cut global warming emissions and increase renewable electricity use. Markey has a history of environmental advocacy, including authoring the 2007 fuel economy law and the 1987 appliance efficiency act, and has received endorsements from groups like the League of Conservation Voters.

““I can’t support this appropriations bill, which funds the Department of the Interior without doing anything to prevent the Trump administration’s attacks on offshore wind and the resulting skyrocketing energy bills, lowered grid reliability, and lost union jobs. [...] “I can’t support this appropriations bill, which funds the Department of Energy without doing anything to rein in the insanity of Trump’s proposal to use American taxpayer dollars to help oil companies profit off Venezuelan oil. “I can’t support this appropriations bill, which enables Trump and Zeldin’s decimation of public health and scientific integrity and fails to resolve this past year’s political attacks on clean energy and environmental grantees. [...] “And I can’t support this appropriations bill, which funds Trump’s Department of Justice as it launches baseless criminal probes and prosecutions against political opponents. We’re dealing with a lawless administration that’s willing to weaponize every part of government against Americans--that's why we need laws that will actually stop it, and this one won’t.” - Senator Edward J. Markey, Statement Opposing Minibus Appropriations Package, January 12, 2026.”

Edward Markey condemned the overturning of Roe v. Wade, stating it jeopardizes health and freedom. He advocates for Congress to pass the Women’s Health and Protection Act to codify Roe v. Wade into law, even suggesting the abolition of the Senate filibuster. Markey also supports expanding the Supreme Court and champions transgender rights, having co-reintroduced the Transgender Bill of Rights.

“What we have feared most has come to pass. A stolen, illegitimate, and far-right majority on the Supreme Court has destroyed nearly fifty years of precedent guaranteeing the constitutional right to an abortion. The overturning of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey is an egregious and overtly political act that jeopardizes the health, safety, and freedom of millions of Americans. - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), statement on the overturning of Roe v. Wade, June 24, 2022.”

Edward Markey opposes increased defense spending, evidenced by his vote against the $1 trillion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which he stated prioritizes "warfare over health care." He advocates for arms control, urging the Trump administration to renew the New START treaty with Russia to prevent a nuclear arms race. Markey, a founder of the Nuclear Freeze movement, also criticizes nuclear proliferation, expressing concern over potential uranium enrichment by Saudi Arabia.

““The Defense budget is the Trump administration’s ironclad commitment to put warfare over health care,” said Senator Markey. “Trump is conducting an illegal war against Venezuela, deploying National Guard troops against our own people, and starting a new global nuclear arms race. All the while, Trump and MAGA Republicans are stealing health care from American families to give tax breaks to these gold-plated defense contractors. We don’t need more bombs, bloated budgets, or boat strikes. We need to fire Secretary of War Crimes Hegseth. We need Oil Tanker Pirate Trump to walk the plank. We need more Medicaid—not more missiles. [...] Year after year, Congress continues to expand military spending—which now, for the first time ever, tops $1 trillion. That is a betrayal of the country’s future and a complete disregard for the real security needs of the American people – education, health care, housing, clean energy. We are denying investments in the programs that will truly build a safer, healthier future for working and middle-class families. The cost of passing this budget in the form of denied rights and wasteful, dangerous spending is simply too great.” (Senator Edward J. Markey, https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-opposes-defense-spending-bill-that-puts-warfare-over-health-care, December 17, 2025)”

Senator Edward Markey created the E-Rate program as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which has since provided over $75 billion, including over $1 billion to Massachusetts, to ensure high-speed internet access for students and educators. He states that access to information should not depend on a child's zip code or family income, aiming to unlock student potential. He also received an endorsement from the Boston Teachers Union.

““Thirty years ago, when I created the E-Rate program, I believed deeply that access to information and opportunity should never depend on a child’s zip code or family income,” said Senator Markey. “E-Rate was built on a simple idea: if we connect every school and every library to the digital world, we can unlock the full potential of every student.” (Senator Edward Markey, Statement on 30th anniversary of E-Rate program, February 8, 2026)”

Edward Markey supports gun control reforms, including universal background checks for all firearm sales, reinstituting the assault weapons ban, and making gun trafficking a federal crime. He successfully advocated for an emergency moratorium on imported military-style assault weapons in 1994 and co-sponsored a proposal to ban bump stocks. He also proposed a "smart gun" bill in 2015 to equip handguns with technology restricting use to the purchaser.

“Edward Markey, in response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, "This Congress has the responsibility to make sure the NRA stands for 'not relevant anymore' in American politics, and we have to begin this debate now."”