CAPUANO: INCUMBENTS MUST BE ON TOES
Says Pressley showed how it can be done
Former Congressman Mike Capuano is warning that incumbent Bay State Democrats Ed Markey and Richard Neal “best be aware and on top of their game,” as they face hard-left challengers in 2020.
Capuano’s own shocking defeat by current U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley became a prime example of a growing divide within the Democratic Party that’s seen liberals buck tradition and challenge party elders at every level — from a progressive lawyer’s challenge of incumbent Senator Markey to Pressley’s “squad” flouting the strict leadership of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Every party goes through this on a cyclical basis. Republicans dealt with it recently with the Tea Party. Now it’s our turn,” Capuano told the Herald in a rare interview since his unexpected 2018 loss.
“The country is upset,” he said. “There’s always some incumbents who are going to suffer.”
The suffering could continue in 2020, with progressives targeting respected and long-serving politicians like Markey and Congressman Neal — the powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee — a position that once would have been considered unassailable.
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse is mulling a race against Neal, while Boston human rights attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan has already pulled papers against Markey.
“I think we need new voices in Congress at this time of division and gridlock,” said Doug Rubin, a Democratic consultant representing Steve Pemberton, a corporate executive who is also considering a run against Markey.
“We’ve seen the positive impact that leaders like Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have made, and we need more of that to help move the country forward,” said Rubin.
Capuano, who’s discussed the competitive political climate with both Markey and Neal, expects this election to be just as difficult for establishment Democrats.
“They best be aware and on top of their game,” Capuano said of the upcoming race. “They all claim to be on top of the situation out there. They’re all working as hard as they can, but you’ve got to know your district, and districts can change quickly.”
Capuano said many of his longtime supporters in the 2018 race didn’t understand the importance of Pressley’s challenge until too late.
“I had a hard time convincing anyone that I had a real race,” said Capuano.
Democratic incumbents are unlikely to face that problem this cycle thanks to Pressley’s victory, as well as her prominent clashes with establishment Dems like Pelosi.
U.S. Reps. Joseph P. Kennedy III and Stephen Lynch also have challengers running far-left campaigns. Neal and Markey have pumped up their fundraising and even drained accounts they created to raise funds for other candidates, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Neal has transferred nearly $300,000 from his Neal Victory Fund to his own committee coffers since January, while Markey has taken $43,7000 from the Markey Victory Fund, according to recent FEC filings.
“I think they’re on heightened alert, and they should be,” said Democratic consultant Scott Ferson. “People think there is this unwritten rule that people are entitled to not have a challenge and it turns out there isn’t one.”
Capuano cautioned Democrats to stay true to themselves despite the recent rush to the left.
“There are things some people in the district wanted that I could never be,” he said. Many promises touted by progressives — like eliminating private health insurance to deliver health care for all — are well-meaning but irresponsible, he said.
“I wasn’t going to say things just to get votes,” said Capuano. “I always wanted to win or lose based on who I am.”