BOSTON — Award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has endorsed U.S. Senator Ed Markey for the 2026 reelection, delivering a forceful and urgent message about the future of American democracy.

Burns, whose work has chronicled the history and struggles of the United States for four decades, said the core U.S. democratic values are “under attack,” and called Senator Markey the bold, principled leader Massachusetts and the nation need in this moment of crisis.

“Ed Markey is that bold, visionary, courageous, effective leader for Massachusetts and America, a battle-tested fighter for a better future, a champion for universal health care, climate action, for reproductive freedom, for education, for innovation and nuclear non-proliferation,” said award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. “He is our firewall in the Senate, standing up for social and economic justice, scientific progress, protecting civil rights and delivering real change that improves real lives.”

Burns adds: “With so much at stake right now, there is no one better to lead our country through dark times, lighting a pathway forward toward a brighter, healthier, fairer, more peaceful and hope-filled future. That’s why we need Ed Markey in the United States Senate now more than ever.”

U.S. Senator Ed Markey thanked Ken Burns for his support:

“Ken Burns has spent his life chronicling America’s story. Its struggles, its triumphs, and its ongoing fight to build a more perfect union. I am deeply honored to receive Ken’s endorsement. Ken understands the promise of our democracy. His warning about the stakes we face is a call to action for all of us. I am grateful for his endorsement, and I will continue fighting every single day to protect our hard-fought freedoms, stand up to MAGA extremism, and deliver real results that make life better for working families.”

Background on Ken Burns

Ken Burns is one of America’s most influential documentary filmmakers, known for shaping how generations understand the nation’s past and present. Spanning more than 40 years, Burns has produced award-winning films including “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “The Vietnam War,” and “The U.S. and the Holocaust.” Ken’s work has earned numerous Emmy Awards, two Oscar nominations, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Burns’s most recent documentary, “The American Revolution,” released last month, explores the 13 colonies and the birth of the nation forged nearly 250 years ago.

###