Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley said today that she will run for re-election, ending speculation that she might challenge incumbent Sentaor Ed Markey in 2026.
Pressley, who represents the Massachusetts 7th District which includes parts of Dorchester and Mattapan along with sections of Roxbury and other neighborhoods of Boston, had to choose between a re-election bid or a run for Senate, since the elections are in the same cycle next year.
“Hearing from so many people from throughout our Commonwealth encouraging me to run for the United States Senate was deeply humbling and a testament to the strength of our movement,” she said in a statement issued this afternoon. “It would be an honor to serve the whole Commonwealth—but with our daughter in her last year at home before college and a district that has been in the crosshairs of this White House, I am certain that the Massachusetts 7th is where I belong in this moment.”
The decision ends weeks of speculation fueled by public polling that showed Pressley would perform well in a three way race featuring the incumbent Markey and Congressman Seth Moulton, who has already announced his intent to challenge Markey.
Pressley said she will run for re-election in the Massachusetts 7th District to “continue building community, governing in close partnership and proximity to my constituents.”
“Now, more than ever, is the time to dig deep, to lean into mutual aid, and to use every tool available to stand in the gap in defense of our neighbors and our democracy,” she concluded.
The ongoing discussion of Pressley leaving for the Senate had also ignited a firestorm of speculation on the domino effect it would have on other city and state elected offices. Many in and around Boston were said to be considering a run for her Congressional seat, while others were considering other seats that could be vacated as a result.
