Jewish Voter Guide
Ed Markey
U.S. Senate · MA · Democrat
Summary
Senator Ed Markey is the Democratic nominee in Massachusetts's 2026 U.S. Senate election and will face Republican nominee John Deaton.
Senator Ed Markey is the incumbent Democratic senator from Massachusetts. Markey has supported Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas while increasingly opposing specific U.S. offensive weapons transfers. On April 15, 2026, he voted to advance resolutions blocking proposed sales of military bulldozers and 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Markey explained that his votes were aimed at opposing and preventing escalation of President Trump's war with Iran, not at rejecting Israel's security as a whole.
Markey has consistently said Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and has favored negotiated, verifiable restrictions over military escalation. He has condemned Hamas's October 7 attack and supported hostage release, while strongly emphasizing humanitarian protections for Palestinians. His public record in the reviewed sources is thinner on Jewish institutional security, direct Jewish-community engagement, and Israel-specific international-organization policy. In 2026 campus-related activity, he emphasized First Amendment and due-process
protections in immigration enforcement rather than articulating a separate Jewish-student protection policy.
The record
Positions come from public votes, statements and on-the-record interviews. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.
Support for a Strong U.S.-Israel Alliance
- On April 15, 2026, Markey voted to advance S.J. Res. 32 and S.J. Res. 138, which sought to block proposed sales of military bulldozers and 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Markey said the votes reflected his opposition to transfers that could prolong or escalate President Trump's war with Iran and his preference for diplomacy.
Preventing a Nuclear Iran
- Markey has said Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and has argued that diplomacy and verifiable limits offer the most durable path to preventing one. After U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, he said military action might set the program back but would not permanently prevent an Iranian bomb.
Condemning and Combating Terrorism
- Markey joined senators describing Hamas's October 7 attack as terrorism and affirming Israel's right and obligation to defend itself, while urging humanitarian aid and protection of civilians.
Source
Response to Hamas's October 7 Attack
- Markey has condemned Hamas's October 7 attack, supported efforts to free hostages, and affirmed Israel's right to defend itself while also pressing for humanitarian protections and an end to the war.
Source
Protecting Jewish Students on Campus
- In March 2026, Markey and colleagues challenged administration efforts to deport or punish students and academics for pro-Palestinian speech without evidence of unlawful conduct. Their letter noted that the State Department had said it had no evidence that student Rumeysa Ozturk engaged in antisemitic activity. The action reflects a civil-liberties and due- process emphasis; it does not by itself establish a policy for protecting Jewish students from antisemitism.
Source
Standing Against Political Extremism
- Markey has opposed political violence and threats to democratic institutions, but no Jewish- community-specific anti-extremism proposal was identified in the reviewed sources.
Support for a Strong U.S.-Israel Alliance
Two-state solution
AlignedSupports the Two State Solution
Supports the two-state solutionU.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act (2018)
AlignedSupported the United States Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018
Cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act (2019)
AlignedVoted For the Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act of 2019
Voted Against the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019
Preventing a Nuclear Iran
Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
Not alignedSupported the Iran Deal
Supported the Iran nuclear deal
Condemning and Combating Terrorism
Taylor Force Act
AlignedSupported the Taylor Force Act
Supported the Taylor Force Act
Sources
- Supported the Iran nuclear deal https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markeys-statement-supporting-the-iran-nuclear-agreement
- Voted Against the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019 https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00016
- Cosponsored the Combating BDS Act of 2017 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/170/cosponsors
- Supported the Taylor Force Act https://jewishjournal.com/news/nation/222549/senate-committee-passes-taylor-force-act/
- Supports the two-state solution https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-statement-on-renewed-israel-palestine-peace-talks
- Cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2497/cosponsors
- Cosponsored Senate Resolution 120 that opposes the global BDS movement https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/120
- Cosponsor of Senate Resolution 234 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/234/cosponsors?pageSort=lastToFirst&loclr=cga-bill
A note on methodology. This guide is published as an educational reference. The American Jewish Congress does not endorse candidates and does not publish aggregate scores. If you spot a position that needs an update or a better source, please reach the office.