MoveOn Members Endorse Ed Markey for Senate With Overwhelming 94% Vote

MoveOn.org Political Action endorsed Representative Ed Markey for U.S. Senate today after he easily won a vote of MoveOn's 219,000 members in Massachusetts. More than 94 percent voted to endorse Markey, well above MoveOn's two-thirds threshold for candidate endorsements.

“MoveOn.org members have spoken clearly and decisively for the progressive values that Rep. Ed Markey would support in the Senate,” said Ilya Sheyman, Campaigns Director at MoveOn.org. “MoveOn members will put our substantial people power to work, mobilizing volunteers and bundling contributions to ensure Ed Markey is Massachusetts' next Senator."

MoveOn members pointed to health care and reproductive freedom as defining issues in the Democratic primary, noting that Rep. Markey voted for the Affordable Care Act and has consistently supported women's rights, while Rep. Stephen Lynch opposed the Affordable Care Act and has a long record as an anti-choice politician. As they cast their ballots to endorse him, MoveOn members also frequently noted Rep. Markey's leadership in the fight against climate change.

"MoveOn members were concerned about Rep. Lynch's vote against health care reform and his past opposition to a woman's right to choose -- that's the wrong record for Massachusetts, and if MoveOn members are any indication, it won't fly in a Democratic primary," Sheyman said.

MoveOn.org’s endorsement has proved potent in previous Massachusetts Senate races. In the 2012 Senate race, MoveOn.org members made more than $1 million in small contributions to Elizabeth Warren's campaign, and more than 750 MoveOn members volunteered on Warren’s behalf across the state. In the end, Warren defeated Sen. Scott Brown, a popular incumbent, 54-46 percent.