When Ed Markey passed the most sweeping judicial reform legislation in the history of Massachusetts as a freshman state representative, the powerful interests who controlled the chamber moved his desk out into the hall. It was the first time Ed Markey showed his courage in political office, but it wouldn’t be the last.
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 as one of its youngest members, Ed has gone on to establish a strong progressive record by standing up for families, fighting the special interests and making an important difference for Massachusetts.
Now Ed is running for the U.S. Senate — but he’s never forgotten where he comes from and who he represents.
Ed, his parents, and twin brothers
(that’s Ed in the middle!)
Ed graduated from Malden Catholic High School. He was the first in his family to go to college and worked his way through Boston College driving an ice cream truck. He then graduated Boston College Law School.
Ed has been a passionate voice for the families and future of Massachusetts. His district includes both high-tech hubs and blue-collar towns, and he always puts the needs of his constituents first. Ed championed the cause of Woburn families whose children developed leukemias linked to toxic contamination from industrial sites in the city and worked tirelessly to enact the Superfund law to clean up the nation’s most toxic waste sites. His leadership helped transform a polluted area along the Malden River into the River’s Edge business and residential development. And he has helped support local infrastructure investments, creating jobs in developments projects in Revere and downtown Malden.
Since his election to Congress, Ed has been a national leader on energy and environmental issues. He stood up to BP when it caused the worst offshore oil spill in American history. He worked successfully to increase fuel economy standards to save consumers money at the gas pump and reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. In 2009, Ed co-authored the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act — landmark legislation to protect our environment and invest in clean energy. It is the only piece of legislation to combat global warming ever to pass a chamber of Congress.
Ed is national leader promoting an innovation economy. Whether you are a consumer or an entrepreneur seeking to compete in a free marketplace, you will have a champion in Ed Markey. He has been a staunch advocate for consumers, taking on monopolies in the cable television, telephone, and electricity markets. His deep knowledge of telecommunications policy and his equally deep commitment to ensuring openness and competition have made him a national leader in building America’s high-tech economy and creating jobs. He is a powerful champion for net neutrality, public broadcasting and improving access to technology for the disabled.
Ed has focused on strengthening homeland security in the areas of nuclear, air and maritime cargo, liquified natural gas and chemical security. Ed is the Congressional leader on nonproliferation, leading the nuclear freeze movement and continuing to spearhead efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. He is also a tireless voice for increased investments in health research to find cures for Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and other deadly diseases.
Throughout his career, Ed has stood up for Massachusetts, doing what’s right for the people he represents even if it was politically unpopular. He is a prolific legislator and has a proven record of working in a bipartisan manner. Ed brings passion and energy to take on the most important issues facing Massachusetts families and our country. Devoted to the Pats, Sox, Celtics and Bruins, with an accent that’s hard to miss, Ed is Massachusetts through and through. Ed’s home is in Malden with his wife Dr. Susan Blumenthal.
