Al Green has lost his primary

[senseandsensibility]

Last edited Wed May 27, 2026, 03:00 PM - Edit history (1)

He lost after being forced to compete due to redistricting. Perhaps his opponent will be good, but it's a shame. I've always liked him. I wish that the Dems had supported him when he walked out on trump during the SOTU and took other strong actions in the early days of trump's second term. You never had to question where he was coming from, unlike some who were playing footsie with Rs back then. Thank you for your service, Rep. Green!

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Thank you. I was hoping someone more familiar than I am with his career would post something like this.

Last edited Tue May 26, 2026, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope Rachel gives him a good farewell segment.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Yes, I'm not too familiar with this race either

But apparently, Rep. Green and another incumbent, Christian Menefee, were forced to face off because of the redistricting.

[cachukis]

3. Green is 78. Menefee is 38.

[senseandsensibility]

5. I still feel that Al Green "brought the fire"

and was not part of the old guard to put it mildly.

[cachukis]

8. No question. Love his tenacity. There is a movement

to more youthful candidates with a more geriatric government on display.
I worry for Markey, for example, whose knowledge and legislative expertise may suffer an age comeuppance.
Boomers are baggage to some.

[AZProgressive]

9. Ed Markey was able to get young people on his side last time he ran for Senate

Including in the primary -- I think groups such as Sunrise Movement helped with that effort.

He may still be able to but I haven't kept up with him much since that 2020 Senate election in Massachusetts.

[BaronChocula]

18. I can't believe a Kennedy tried to primary him

Seemed pretty audacious.

[Polybius]

25. Kennedy's are known for that

Just ask Bobby (1968) and Ted (1980).

[BaronChocula]

35. Ha!

How about that. At least Bobby was reluctant at first and had things a little more thought through.

[dflprincess]

20. Markey still impresses when he's on MSNOW

I did see he's being challenged in the primary by Rep Seth Moulton (think I spelled that right). I don't know anything about him but have seen comments that he'd be the "next Kyrsten Sinema".

[DFW]

32. I spent quite a bit of phone time with Seth Moulton two months ago

We were at the same event over New Year’s but never got to chat.

He certainly seemed liberal enough to me, definitely no Sinema, though we didn’t cover all subjects.

Markey seems liberal enough, too, but he was one of the ones who cruelly trashed Al Franken and (as far as I know) never apologized to Al. If he wins the nomination, I hope he wins re-election. However, if he loses the nomination, I will not have a second thought over supporting Moulton.

[peggysue2]

38. The last poll I read (early May) showed a 5 point spread between Markey and Moulton

That's not huge for an incumbent.

I think there's a generational thing going on with a lot of these races. Moulton, Platner, Talerico, etc. are young and represent the yearning for a changing-of-the-guard, fresh faces, fresh ideas., etc. All the complaints about our aging leadership, the fact that the fire in the belly, the willingness to take risks are diminished, absent are playing out for 2026.

Is that enough for Moulton? Don't know. He's certainly not a firebrand progressive; he'd be considered a moderate by most voters. I don't think he's a Kyrsten Sinema clone but I'm reluctant to make predictions after John Fetterman's reversals.

Moulton appears to be playing up the age difference. That could easily be a mistake, a clear way to piss off voters in Massachusetts. Markey is respected and loved by many. If I recall, Moulton pushed the same age argument against Joe Biden at the end of 2024.

That pissed me off.

We shall see.

[senseandsensibility]

10. Markey is a true progressive

He hasn't lost a step, so IMHO it would be foolish to lose his expertise and experience. It's true that some need to go, but painting with a broad brush is not the answer.

[yorkster]

11. X1000

[AZProgressive]

12. I don't think anyone is actually trying to get rid of him

Last time Joe Kennedy who Pelosi endorsed ran against him and young people actually backed Markey. I see Wikipedia has that he is "an icon to Gen Z activists" on his Wikipedia page so personally I don't see that happening with Markey.

[electric_blue68]

19. This! Each is individual case!

[agingdem]

26. he is still 78...and has served 21 years in the House

Last edited Wed May 27, 2026, 07:12 AM - Edit history (1)

which makes him part of the old guard..two decades in Congress is more than enough..it's way past time for the old guard to step aside and make room for a new generation of progressive Democrats...and yes it is an ageism thing..120 members of Congress are 70 years old and over..a congressional seat should not be a life time appointment and a conduit to wealth but sadly that's what it's become regardless of " he's one of the good guys"...

[bottomofthehill]

28. Close but

He actually served nearly 40 years in the House and about 12 in the Senate. He was first elected to office in about 1970 As a member of the great and general court (state House of Representatives). I would still happily vote for him over Seth Moulton.

[agingdem]

37. Al Green is a Texas US Congressman..

I'm not sure how this became about Massachusetts...but ok

[malaise]

29. Agree 100%

Rec

[karynnj]

33. Massachusetts voters will choose

There are few better on the environment and climate change. He is articulate and convincing when he speaks on TV or in the Senate. He seems to be a very competent legislator.

In fact, the only reason I can think it would be good to elect someone younger is that BOTH Massachusetts Senators are among the older members which means that you can predict that 8 years from now both will have ended their excellent careers and MA will have two Senators in their first terms. ( That assumes that Markey wins now and Warren runs and wins in 2030 when she is 80 and neither runs again in 32 or 36. If Warren does not run in 2030, MA will have 2 freshmen in 2032.)

[PatSeg]

34. Yes, age should not be the first and primary consideration

Some of our best and most progressive members of congress are well over 70. Experience is still an important attribute that should not be ignored.

If and when a person can no longer do the job effectively because of age and/or health, yes it is probably time to stepdown, but to set someone aside due to age only, is not a good precedent to set.

[rogue emissary]

36. And AIPAC is celebrating Green's lost.

[TBF]

4. He's a good guy -

I'm sorry to see him lose. He ran in the newly created 18th (after they gerry-mandered him out of his district). The winner is also a young progressive so it's not as bad as some of the races. Still sad to lose Rep. Green though.

[senseandsensibility]

6. Yes, they both should have a seat

Neither one of them should have been redistricted out.

[TBF]

41. that's how I feel -

I know Christian is probably a little more progressive, but Al really fought for the people. In a better world Al would have been a mentor to Christian .. and who knows - maybe behind the scenes he is.

[Nanjeanne]

7. Al Green was one of the few fighters.

[Wiz Imp]

13. According to Progressive Punch, Menefee has a better voting score this session - 98.99% to 98.48% for Green.

Also, for his whole career, Green's voting record is not nearly as good - Progressive Punch rates him a D. I predict Menefee will be a better Representative than Green.

https://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?topic=&house=house&sort=overall-current&order=down&party=D

https://progressivepunch.org/proto/record.jsp?member=400653

https://progressivepunch.org/proto/record.jsp?member=413035

[FoxNewsSucks]

15. Maybe, but without republicon cheating

we might have had them both.

[AZProgressive]

17. I use GovTrack to keep track of who is more liberal or conservative

These are usually a couple years behind but it keeps track going back to at least a decade.

For 2024 Al Green was tied with Jasmine Crockett and Becca Balint who are both terrific congress women.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2024/house/ideology

I'm usually ok with anyone to the left of Henry Cuellar though.

[blue_jay]

45. Helpful resource, hadn't heard of it before

Is there a way to search out the specific changes in the legislation, etc. voted on somewhere on the website? Would be helpful to be able to understand reasoning (if any) behind the no (and yes) votes for specific votes, sometimes without the details the vote totals can be misleading.

[FoxNewsSucks]

14. That's a fucking shame.

We need more fighters like him, not less.

[ColoringFool]

16. I Keep Reading This As "Al Green Has Lost His Memory."

[Exp]

21. A geniune and FEISTY man! I wish we had more of them.. eom

[mahina]

22. What a great man. I am so very sorry to read of this.

With immense respect, gratitude and aloha.

[IzzaNuDay]

23. the bright side: he can still hold people accountable

Like Sen. Massie, they could form a coalition. Just a thought!

[Polybius]

24. Good

The new guy will make a great Congressman.

[MichMan]

27. He's not a "new guy"

Already serving in congress

[Polybius]

31. My mistake

Still an improvement imo.

[TBF]

40. Just younger - and yes I like Christian too

improvement is that he's younger & if that helps get out the vote I'll take it.

Al Green has been my current rep and he was great. It is a damned shame they were forced to run against each other given Gov. Abbott's gerrymandering spree.

[Mysterian]

30. Love Green but I welcome the new generation of fighters

Green has deserved his retirement and I know he will keep on fighting.

[TBF]

39. My congressman Al Green is the bomb - this is what he has to say today:

May 27, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION Teque'lia Lewis, Press Secretary
May 27, 2026 Press Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
MEDIA ADVISORY AND PUBLIC NOTICE
Congressman Al Green Releases Statement in Response to President Trump’s Truth Social Post About the Election

(Houston, TX) — On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“Friends, click here to see President Trump’s comments about my election. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. President, but you will hear from me again. I have more than enough time left in Congress to continue calling out your corruption. Sincerely, your unbought, unbossed, unafraid, unelected, liberated democrat - Al Green, The People’s Congressman.”

[senseandsensibility]

42. I would expect nothing less than that statement

Thanks for sharing it.

[KG]

43. I for one will miss his rendition of 'Let's Stay Together'

[LetMyPeopleVote]

44. Congressman Al Green Releases Statement in Response to President Trump's Truth Social Post About the Election.

Link to tweet