More against Markey? Republican John Deaton ‘definitely leaning’ toward 2026 US Senate bid
Swansea cryptocurrency attorney John Deaton, the Republican who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024, appears to be moving ever closer to a return to electoral politics.
Deaton told MassLive on Friday that he was "definitely leaning toward getting into the race" for U.S. Senate in 2026, but was still "having final discussions about it" before he makes a decision. He did not offer further details
Still, any number of variables, including the emergence of potential GOP primary challengers and the ability to raise money, could impact that final decision.
Deaton, 58, who has been widely mentioned as a potential GOP challenger to U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sent supporters an invitation to a Nov. 10 "special event" in Worcester that has all the trappings of a campaign announcement.
A copy of the invitation shared with MassLive puts the evening event at Off the Rails, a Worcester restaurant.
The 2026 Republican candidates for governor are listed as guests.
The invitation does not specify which of the three GOP gubernatorial hopefuls — former Baker administration officials Mike Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve and medical device millionaire Michael Minogue — will be in attendance.
Deaton secured millions of dollars in support from the cryptocurrency industry in his 2024 campaign. He went on to lose to Warren, of Cambridge, 60%-40% on Election Day.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., talks about looming cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during a news conference in East Boston on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.John L. Micek/MassLive
Markey, 79, has been on Capitol Hill since the Carter administration. He has faced questions about his age as he embarks on his quest for a third term.
He currently has two challengers, political newcomer Alex Rikleen, and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, who has centered his campaign on generational change.
Moulton led Markey 42.9% to 21% among all voters in a poll by the business-friendly Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Foundation. It was released before Moulton announced his candidacy.
Forty-six percent of Democratic respondents to the poll said they believed Markey should not seek reelection to the Senate, compared to 35% who said he should run again.
The poll of 750 likely voters was conducted from Sept. 23 to Sept. 24. It had a margin of error of 3.6%.
During an unrelated event in East Boston on Friday, Markey brushed aside the intraparty squabble and questions about his age, repeating a familiar line.
"It's not your age, it's the age of your ideas," Markey, who would be 80 by Election Day and 86 at the end of his third term, said. "And I'm still the youngest guy in the room."
"This is the most energized I've ever been. I get up every day to fight [President] Donald Trump, to fight for those poorest, sickest, most elderly, [and] disabled in our country who are being attacked every single day by Donald Trump," he said. "Donald Trump is bringing out the Malden in me every single day."
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