Sources: Rep. Ayanna Pressley Mulls Run for U.S. Senate

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate seat held by fellow Democrat Ed Markey, according to reporting from Politico. If she enters the race and prevails, Pressley would become the first woman of color to represent Massachusetts in the Senate, a milestone that would mirror her 2018 breakthrough as the first woman of color the state sent to Congress.

Pressley, a prominent progressive and member of the “Squad,” would face a crowded and competitive primary field. Markey, 79, has said he will seek re-election. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) has already launched a campaign, casting himself as part of a new generation of Democratic leadership amid the party’s ongoing tug-of-war between establishment figures and insurgent progressives.

An October poll from the University of Massachusetts Amherst testing a hypothetical matchup showed Markey leading with 35%, followed by Moulton at 25% and Pressley at 21%.

Despite the speculation, Pressley’s office says her attention remains on governing. “The Congresswoman remains focused on ending Republicans’ government shutdown, serving her district, and effectively fighting back against the White House’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, Black and brown folks, federal workers, and our immigrant neighbors,” spokesperson Ricardo Sánchez told Politico on Election Day.

The potential contest would underscore Democrats’ broader debate over the party’s direction—between left-leaning platforms and more centrist approaches—as Massachusetts voters weigh continuity against change in 2026.