Rep. Joe Kennedy III Will Challenge Markey For Senate Seat

joe kennedy iii congressman congress representative rep

Rep. Joe Kennedy. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Congressman Joe Kennedy III will formally announce his bid for Senate this weekend.

At an event at the East Boston Social Center Saturday, Kennedy is set to announce his primary campaign against Sen. Ed Markey, a fellow Democrat.

WBZ political analyst Jon Keller said Kennedy has been hiring staff and making the necessary moves for a Senate run, so his announcement "comes as no surprise."

"There are three other unofficial candidates in the race, but none with the name recognition of Kennedy and Markey, a rare match-up between heavyweights in Massachusetts politics in an intra-party fight," Keller said.

A recent poll found Kennedy led Markey by double digits.

"It's interesting to me that he's hired a top aide to Ayanna Pressley, who unseated long-time Congressman Mike Capuano last year," Keller said. "I think that's a signal, and the contrast is gonna be obvious. He's 38, Markey's 73—oh yeah, this is about a generation gap, along with a lot of other things."

Markey has been representing Massachusetts in the Senate since 1977. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, House Speaker Bob DeLeo, and Senate President Karen Spilka have all said they will continue endorsing Markey for reelection.

Kennedy confirmed last month that he was eyeing the Senate seat, but told reporters he had yet to make a final decision.

"I'm thinking about what I have to offer Massachusetts voters, what is most important in this political moment, and what kind of party Democrats need to be building for the future," he wrote in an August 26 Facebook post.

WBZ NewsRadio's Ben Parker (@radiobenparker) interviews Jon Keller (@kelleratlarge) below

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