By: Tara Monastesse 

Berkshire — As midterm election season heats up in Massachusetts, the leaders ofBerkshire County’s two cities are sticking with what they know.

Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti and North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey have both endorsed U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in the Democratic primary race, siding with the two-term incumbent over challenger U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, according to a Friday announcement from Markey’s campaign.

“[Markey] has been a strong advocate for Pittsfield and Berkshire County, working to bring federal investment and opportunity to Western Massachusetts,” Marchetti said. “He understands our region and consistently delivers for our communities.”

Macksey said Markey "has been a strong partner for North Adams and communities across Berkshire County, making sure cities and towns in the Northern Berkshires have a voice in Washington.”

The local support comes on the heels of Markey’s recent campaign visit to Western Massachusetts, which included a stop in Pittsfield over the weekend to meet with voters and discuss the issues they found most pressing. In a statement to The Eagle, Markey said that constituents he met expressed concerns about the “kitchen-table crisis” of increased gas prices caused by the war in Iran.

“Families in the Berkshires are getting hit with a double bill – their taxes are funding the war, and then they’re paying again at the pump, again on their home heating bill, and again on their electric bill,” he said. “That is what I was hearing when I was in Pittsfield over the weekend.”

But as Democrats struggle to navigate challenges posed by the second Trump administration, Moulton feels that the sun has set on the senator’s political viability. Moulton is casting Markey as the face of what Democrats need to change as their party continues to lick its wounds after losing the 2024presidential election.

During a listening tour stop in Berkshire County in January, Moulton told The Eagle he felt the Democratic Party needed to formulate a more coherent identity.

“We haven't challenged [Trump] effectively,” he said. “I think we can all agree on that. And the bottom line is that the old playbook, the establishment approach, is not working.”

Many local leaders still seem willing to back Markey. Seven Pittsfield city councilors endorsed Markey’s campaign: Earl Persip III, Peter White, KathleenAmuso, Alisa Costa, James Conant, Patrick Kavey, and Dina Lampiasi. One North Adams city councilor, Alexa MacDonald, also endorsed Markey.

If able to secure another term in the Senate, Markey said he wouldn’t leave Western Massachusetts behind in his leadership.

“I am honored to have the support of leaders who are fighting for their cities every day,” said Markey. “Berkshire County embodies the spirit of Massachusetts: hardworking families, vibrant communities, and an unshakeable belief in a better future.”

“I will never stop fighting to make sure Western Massachusetts has a champion in Washington who delivers real results, because the people ofBerkshire County deserve nothing less,” he added.

VER ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/region/markey-endorsement-pittsfield-north-adams/article_fbdcb2da-bcd2-45c0-80f0-08deaed37165.html