Why Did Pelosi Endorse Kennedy Over Markey in MA Senate Race?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised eyebrows today by endorsing Congressman Joe Kennedy's challenge to incumbent Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey.

Pelosi said that Kennedy “knows that to achieve progressive change, you must be on the front lines, leading movements of people.” She also cited Kennedy's work campaigning for Democrats during the 2018 mid-terms although it is worth noting Kennedy wasn't so enthusiastic about doing such things in 2016. 

One way to look at Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy is that she is looking to the long term. Should Markey prevail he will be 80 at the end of his term and likely retire whereas Kennedy is just entering his prime. In endorsing Kennedy she not just endorsing a new Senator but a possible presidential candidate with a familiar name. Or it could be that Pelosi doesn't care much for Markey or at the very least his co-sponsorship of the Green New Deal. Pelosi has been lukewarm at best with regard to the legislative proposal.

This would be the same Green New Deal is also co-sponsored by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who was not pleased with Pelosi's endorsement. AOC proclaimed, "No one gets to complain about primary challenges again." As usual AOC is being silly as Pelosi was more than happy to endorse Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib against their respective primary challengers and, for that matter, AOC. She doth protest too much. 

Yet I suspect that having Kennedy in the Senate could pose a problem for her own presidential ambitions in 2024 or 2028. It could explain why Markey was considerably calmer in his reaction to Pelosi's endorsement. If Markey does lose to Kennedy, I'm sure he will have a place in the Biden Administration. If Trump were to be re-elected, I'm sure Markey would end up as a university chancellor perhaps at Boston College, his alma mater. 

Besides this assumes Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy will carry more weight with Massachusetts voters than Elizabeth Warren's endorsement of Markey. While the cumulative polling has them tied, the most recent poll earlier this month had Markey leading Kennedy by 15 points. 

So what if I were still living in Massachusetts? While Kennedy is probably closer to my political inclinations, Markey hasn't done anything truly egregious and is more personable of the two. If the Bay State were my home I'd be fine with either of them as my Senator. Then again unless I move back to Massachusetts between now and November 3rd, it's a choice I won't have to make.