MA Senate Debate Turns Vicious Despite Calls To Stay Positive

NEEDHAM, MA — Although both Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate have called for an issue-oriented campaign, the cycle of personal attacks between incumbent Ed Markey and challenger Joe Kennedy showed no signs of ending during their final debate Tuesday night.

The two clashed repeatedly over negative advertising and the role of super PAC money in the race.

Markey repeated earlier accusations that Kennedy allowed his father and twin brother to contribute to a super PAC running negative ads against him, adding that the same PAC accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry.

Kennedy countered he never wanted super PACs in the race and signed a pledge to avoid them that Markey rejected.

"The only reason why super PAC money is in this race is because of Senator Markey," Kennedy said. "You can't invite in super PACs and then tell them to go away."

Markey denied the claim. He said the pledge was too broad, that it should have allowed certain advocacy groups to contribute while disavowing corporate campaign-spending.

"Environmental groups and women's groups should be able to speak," Markey said. "We should welcome them in the age of Donald Trump."

But Kennedy said Markey's donations aren't all coming from the advocacy groups he claims.

"His super PAC has accepted a donation from a misogynist, a former Uber executive who lost his board seat," Kennedy said, referring to David Bonderman, who said "women talk too much."

Markey said Kennedy hadn't disclosed who his own donors are.

"You said who is in mine, but you haven't disclosed yours," Markey said. "That should be a rule for a Kennedy, a Markey, a Smith or a Jones."

Racial justice

Kennedy and Markey sparred again on police reform, despite holding nearly identical views.

Markey said that more Black people are incarcerated in 2020 than there were slaves in 1850, adding that the criminal justice system essentially criminalizes being poor, Black, an immigrant or mentally ill.

He also said he's working with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker to introduce a bill that will "fundamentally change" the way police do their jobs.

"We have to reimagine policing in America," Markey said. "We have 5 percent of the population with 20 percent of the world's prison population."

Kennedy said he agrees racial justice needs to be a priority. He said Massachusetts prison officials have told him that 80 to 90 percent of inmates suffer from substance abuse, mental health problems, or both, and called for alternatives to incarceration.

Kennedy said Markey supported mass incarceration policies in a federal crime bill in 1994 and opposed busing that integrated Boston schools. He also questioned why it took Markey so long to team up with Booker.

"He claims to now have partnered with Cory Booker," Kennedy said. "He introduced it a year ago. You sponsored it, but you're late."

Markey fired back that he was one of only two senators to sponsor the bill.

Over the last few weeks, polls have shown a tightening race between the two candidates, with Kennedy's once-large lead not only dwindling, but shifting in some polls to Markey's direction.

The most recent poll from WCVB/UMass Amherst showed Markey with a 15-point lead, but the candidates have averaged a tie in all polling conducted so far.