History of Ed Markey in Timeline
Edward John Markey is a prominent American politician currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Massachusetts, a position he has held since 2013. A long-standing member of the Democratic Party, Markey boasts an extensive career in public service. He served an impressive 20 terms (1976-2013) as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district, preceding his Senate tenure. Prior to his time in Congress, he also served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976. His decades-long commitment to public service has solidified his position as a significant figure in Massachusetts politics.
1925: Frederick H. Gillett Joins the Senate
In 1925, Frederick H. Gillett, who served in the House for 32 years, transitioned to the Senate.
July 11, 1946: Birth of Edward John Markey
Edward John Markey was born on July 11, 1946.
1965: "Eddie the Ice Cream Man"
During the summer of 1965, Ed Markey worked as an ice cream truck driver and salesman to fund his education at Boston College.
1968: Markey Graduates from Boston College
Ed Markey graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968.
1968: Markey Joins Army Reserve
Ed Markey joined the United States Army Reserve in 1968, serving until 1973.
1972: Markey Earns Juris Doctor
Ed Markey graduated from Boston College Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in 1972.
1973: Markey Completes Army Reserve Service
Ed Markey finished his service in the United States Army Reserve in 1973.
1973: Markey Elected to Massachusetts House
Ed Markey was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1973.
1973: Markey's Entry into Massachusetts Politics
In 1973, Ed Markey began his political career as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
May 21, 1976: Death of Congressman Torbert Macdonald
On May 21, 1976, Congressman Torbert Macdonald died in office, creating a vacancy that Markey would later fill.
November 1976: Markey Wins Special and Regular Election to Congress
Ed Markey won both the special and regular elections for the 7th congressional district in November 1976.
1976: Markey's Election to U.S. House of Representatives
Ed Markey was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district in 1976.
1976: Start of Markey's Long Congressional Career
Ed Markey's long career in Congress began in 1976. As of November 2023, he is the longest-serving Democrat in Congress.
1976: End of Markey's Term in Massachusetts House
Ed Markey's term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives ended in 1976.
1978: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 1978, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
1980: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 1980, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
1980: Markey Wins Democratic Primary
Markey won the Democratic primary for his congressional seat in 1980 with 85% of the vote.
1983: Markey Begins Shift on Abortion Stance
Starting in 1983, Ed Markey began to move away from his initial opposition to abortion.
1984: Markey Supports Abortion Legality
During his 1984 Senate campaign, Ed Markey stated his support for the legality of abortion despite his personal opposition.
1984: Markey Wins Democratic Primary
Markey won the Democratic primary for his congressional seat in 1984 with 54% of the vote.
1986: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 1986, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
1988: Marriage to Susan Blumenthal
Ed Markey married Susan Blumenthal in 1988.
1988: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 1988, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
1990: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 1990, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
1990: Children's Television Act Enacted
The Children's Television Act, impacting children's educational content on television, was enacted in 1990.
1992: Markey Re-elected with Lowest Vote Total
In 1992, Markey was re-elected with his lowest vote total (62%) in a three-way race.
1996: Vote Against the Defense of Marriage Act
In 1996, Markey voted against the Defense of Marriage Act.
2000: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 2000, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
2002: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 2002, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
2002: Markey Wins Democratic Primary
Markey won the Democratic primary for his congressional seat in 2002 with 85% of the vote.
2003: Cameo in Gods and Generals
Ed Markey made a cameo appearance in the 2003 film Gods and Generals.
2003: Markey Raises Concerns about Air Cargo Security
In 2003, Ed Markey highlighted the security risks associated with unchecked air cargo on passenger planes.
2004: Markey Votes Against Counting Ohio's Electoral Votes
Ed Markey was among the House Democrats who voted against counting Ohio's electoral votes in the 2004 presidential election.
2004: Markey Considered for Senate Seat
Ed Markey was considered as a potential replacement for John Kerry's Senate seat if Kerry won the 2004 presidential election.
2005: Contributing Writer for The Huffington Post
Ed Markey started as a contributing writer to The Huffington Post in 2005.
October 27, 2006: Call for Arrest of Security Researcher
On October 27, 2006, Markey called for the arrest of security researcher Christopher Soghoian for creating a website that generated fake boarding passes.
October 28, 2006: FBI Agents Seize Materials from Soghoian's House
Following Markey's call for Soghoian's arrest on October 27, FBI agents seized materials from Soghoian's house on October 28, 2006 at 2 AM.
October 29, 2006: Revised Statement on Security Researcher
On October 29, 2006, Markey revised his earlier statement, suggesting that the Department of Homeland Security employ Soghoian to highlight security vulnerabilities, while still criticizing his disclosure methods.
2006: Markey Re-elected Unopposed
In 2006, Markey was re-elected to the House of Representatives without Republican opposition.
2006: Creation of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Nancy Pelosi created the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in 2006, which Ed Markey would later chair.
December 2007: Markey's Use of Second Life for Climate Advocacy
In December 2007, Ed Markey became the first U.S. politician to use Second Life to address the UNFCCC delegates in Bali, advocating for climate action.
2007: Markey Chairs Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Ed Markey became the chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in 2007.
2007: Air Cargo Screening Requirement Signed into Law
Ed Markey's efforts led to a law mandating 100% air cargo screening on passenger planes in 2007.
September 12, 2009: Markey Announces Decision Not to Run for Senate
On September 12, 2009, Ed Markey publicly announced his decision against running for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.
2009: Markey Sponsors Internet Freedom Preservation Act
In 2009, Ed Markey sponsored the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, aiming to enact net neutrality principles.
August 2010: Markey's Remarks on Global Warming Deniers
In August 2010, Ed Markey sarcastically suggested that global warming deniers should start their own country on a breaking-off iceberg, highlighting the urgency of climate change.
2010: Markey Declines to Run for Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat
Ed Markey chose not to run for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in the 2010 special election, instead endorsing Michael Capuano.
2010: Markey Presses BP for Oil Spill Footage
In 2010, Ed Markey pressured BP to provide a live video feed of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
2010: Massachusetts Loses a Congressional District
Massachusetts lost a congressional district following the 2010 census, leading to Markey's district being renumbered.
January 2011: Elimination of Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
In January 2011, the House Republicans eliminated the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
2011: End of Markey's Chairmanship of the Select Committee
In 2011, Ed Markey's term as chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming ended.
December 27, 2012: Markey Announces Candidacy for Senate
On December 27, 2012, Ed Markey announced his candidacy for the special election to fill John Kerry's Senate seat after Kerry's nomination for Secretary of State.
April 30, 2013: Markey Wins Democratic Nomination
On April 30, 2013, Ed Markey secured the Democratic nomination for the Senate special election by defeating fellow Congressman Stephen Lynch.
July 15, 2013: Markey Resigns from House, Sworn into Senate
On July 15, 2013, Ed Markey resigned from his House seat and was sworn into the Senate the following day.
August 2013: Protection of Service Members from Predatory Lending
In August 2013, Markey joined other senators in raising concerns about predatory lending practices targeting service members and their families.
2013: Markey Wins Special Senate Election
Ed Markey won the special election to the U.S. Senate in 2013, filling John Kerry's seat after he became Secretary of State.
2013: Markey's Election to U.S. Senate
In 2013, Ed Markey became the junior United States Senator from Massachusetts.
May 2014: Defense of Net Neutrality
In May 2014, Senator Markey joined other senators in urging the FCC to strengthen net neutrality rules and consider reclassifying internet providers.
September 2014: Request to FDA to Revise Tissue Donation Policy
In September 2014, Markey joined other members of Congress in asking the FDA to change its policy banning tissue donations from men who have had sex with men.
2014: Markey Wins Full Senate Term
In 2014, Ed Markey won a full six-year Senate term, defeating Republican Brian Herr.
2014: Evzio price
In 2014, the price of the opioid overdose reversal drug Evzio was $690 before Kaléo Pharmaceuticals increased it to $4,500.
October 2016: Letter to President Obama on Dakota Access Pipeline
In October 2016, Senator Markey and four other senators asked President Obama to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline project until the permitting process included proper tribal consultation and environmental review.
February 2017: Letter to Kaléo Pharmaceuticals
In February 2017, Senator Markey joined 30 other senators in questioning Kaléo Pharmaceuticals about the price increase of Evzio, an opioid overdose reversal drug.
March 2017: Letter to Mitch McConnell on American Health Care Act
In March 2017, Senator Markey led 21 senators to address concerns about the American Health Care Act's effect on Medicaid beneficiaries with substance abuse disorders.
May 2017: Support for the Equality Act of 2017
In May 2017, Senator Markey co-sponsored the Equality Act, aiming to protect LGBT individuals from discrimination.
September 2017: Challenge to FCC on Net Neutrality
In September 2017, Markey and other senators criticized the FCC for not allowing public comment on complaints related to proposed changes to net neutrality protections.
2017: End of Huffington Post Contributions
Ed Markey concluded his time as a contributing writer for The Huffington Post in 2017.
2017: Sunrise Movement Founded
The Sunrise Movement, a youth-led organization advocating for the Green New Deal, was founded in 2017.
March 2018: Defense of Lifeline Program
In March 2018, Senator Markey joined colleagues in criticizing FCC Chairman Pai's proposal to cut the Lifeline program, which provided internet access to low-income communities.
May 2018: Opposition to Closure of FLRA's Boston Office
In May 2018, Markey led a group of senators urging the Federal Labor Relations Authority to keep its Boston office open, citing concerns about the impact on federal employees.
September 2018: Letter to Mike Pompeo about State Department Security
In September 2018, Senator Markey joined four other senators in requesting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo enhance cybersecurity at the State Department.
October 2018: Advocacy for Same-Sex Partners of Diplomats
In October 2018, Markey and other senators urged Secretary of State Pompeo to allow same-sex partners of LGBT diplomats to receive visas, criticizing the reversal of this policy.
November 2018: Senators Respond to Climate Change Reports
In November 2018, Ed Markey joined a group of senators supporting action on climate change following alarming reports.
2018: Democrats Regain House Control
In the 2018 midterm elections, the Democratic Party regained control of the House of Representatives.
February 2019: Markey and Ocasio-Cortez Release Green New Deal Plan
In February 2019, Ed Markey and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez released their Green New Deal plan to address climate change and economic inequality.
February 2019: Inquiry into Facebook's Project Atlas
In February 2019, Senator Markey, along with Senators Blumenthal and Hawley, questioned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about Project Atlas and its implications for user privacy.
May 2019: Honorary Doctorate from Tufts University
In May 2019, Ed Markey received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Tufts University.
June 2019: Markey Seeks Antitrust Investigations
In June 2019, Ed Markey joined a group of senators urging antitrust investigations into major tech companies.
June 2019: Cosponsoring the Safe Freight Act
In June 2019, Senator Markey cosponsored the Safe Freight Act to increase safety regulations for freight trains.
June 2019: Questioning State Department's Stance on Pride Month
In June 2019, Senator Markey questioned the State Department's decision not to issue a statement for Pride Month or instructions to embassies for related events.
July 2019: Co-Sponsorship of the STRANDED Act
In July 2019, Markey co-sponsored the STRANDED Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at supporting communities affected by the economic impact of nuclear waste storage.
July 2019: Protecting Sensitive Locations Act
In July 2019, Senator Markey co-sponsored the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, aiming to restrict ICE enforcement actions at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals. The bill proposed requiring supervisor approval for such actions and annual training for agents.
July 2019: Protection of Military Families from Deportation
In July 2019, Senator Markey joined a bipartisan group of senators to oppose the Trump administration's plan to end deportation protection for families of active-duty service members. They argued that this would create hardship and impact military performance.
September 13, 2019: Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Markey
On September 13, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Ed Markey for his Senate re-election campaign.
2019: Markey Introduces Child Care Act
In 2019, Ed Markey co-sponsored the Child Care for Working Families Act, aiming to expand access to affordable childcare.
2019: Markey Raises Concerns about Changes to Children's Television Act
In 2019, Ed Markey expressed concerns about proposed changes to the Children's Television Act, fearing reduced access to educational content.
2019: League of Conservation Voters Endorses Markey
The League of Conservation Voters endorsed Ed Markey in 2019.
June 2020: Co-authoring the Freedom to Move Act
In June 2020, Senator Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley introduced the Freedom to Move Act, offering grants for fare-free public transportation.
September 1, 2020: Markey Faces Primary Challenge
On September 1, 2020, Ed Markey faced a Democratic primary challenge from Joe Kennedy III.
2020: Markey Endorses Biden for President
In 2020, after initially endorsing Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.
2020: Markey Re-elected to Senate
Markey won re-election to the Senate in 2020, defeating Joseph Kennedy III in the primary.
April 2021: Bill to Expand the Supreme Court
In April 2021, Senator Markey sponsored a bill to expand the Supreme Court from nine to thirteen justices.
2021: Markey Shelters During Capitol Attack
In 2021, Ed Markey was present at the Capitol during the January 6 attack and sheltered in place. He later called for Trump's impeachment and the invocation of the 25th Amendment.
March 2023: Introduction of the Transgender Bill of Rights
In March 2023, Senator Markey introduced the Transgender Bill of Rights, a resolution to federally protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary individuals.
April 2023: Reintroduction of the Freedom to Move Act
Senator Markey and Representative Pressley reintroduced the Freedom to Move Act in April 2023, aiming to provide grants for free public transit systems.
2023: Markey Attends State of the Union with Abortion Rights Advocate
In 2023, Ed Markey attended the State of the Union Address wearing a pro-choice pin, accompanied by abortion rights advocate Kate Dineen.
2023: Vote Against Fiscal Responsibility Act
Senator Markey voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
April 2024: Markey Ranked Among Most Popular Senators
In April 2024, a Morning Consult poll ranked Ed Markey among the top ten most popular senators.
