Republican John Deaton pronounces one other run for Senate

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“Ed Markey is MIA, not often seen right here and infrequently delivering ends in Washington, the place he is referred to as residence because the 70s,” John Deaton stated in a brand new marketing campaign video.

After failing to unseat Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Marine veteran and lawyer John Deaton is now the primary Republican to launch a run for Sen. Ed Markey’s seat, he introduced at an occasion in Worcester Monday evening.

“Our leaders must be doing their jobs to assist Massachusetts households, however they’re all profession politicians, and so they’re failing,” Deaton says in a new marketing campaign video, as Warren, Markey, and Markey major challenger Rep. Seth Moulton span the display.

Deaton, a cryptocurrency advocate and private damage lawyer, was a political newcomer when he launched a bid towards Warren final 12 months. Whereas she pulled comfortably forward of him final November, Deaton made up some floor after two testy debates between the candidates.

Republican candidates for governor joined Deaton’s get together at Worcester restaurant Off the Rails, in line with an invitation despatched out by the state’s GOP get together. Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy spoke, in line with a commentator on X, whereas Mike Mintogue voiced his assist for Deaton on the social media platform.

Markey introduced his intent to run for one more six-year time period final 12 months, which means he could be 80 years previous on Election Day in 2026. Deaton, who lives in Bolton and is 58, seems to attract consideration to his relative youth within the marketing campaign video, which options Deaton working and leaping to finish an impediment course.

“Ed Markey is MIA, not often seen right here and infrequently delivering ends in Washington, the place he’s referred to as residence because the 70s,” Deaton says, alluding to Markey’s 37 years as a consultant earlier than he was elected to his present seat in 2013.

Up to now, Deaton is the one Republican to announce a run for the 2026 preliminary election. His message centered on addressing rising vitality, housing, grocery costs, in addition to his emphasis on his “impartial voice” that echoed his earlier marketing campaign.

He beforehand ran as a average Republican who in contrast himself to former Gov. Charlie Baker, emphasizing his assist for codifying Roe v. Wade into federal regulation. 

Markey faces a major problem from North Shore Democrat Moulton. A current ballot exhibits Markey has a agency lead over Moulton, who drew appreciable controversy over his feedback about transgender athletes. Rep. Ayanna Pressley is reportedly contemplating leaping into the race as nicely, whereas Rep. Jack Auchincloss declined to run.

Deaton’s memoir “Meals Stamp Warrior” tells his story of rising up poor in “the hood” close to Detroit earlier than becoming a member of the Marines and attending regulation faculty in Boston in 1992. When the guide was written in 2023, he was residing “smack dab in the midst of suburbia” in Rhode Island however moved to Massachusetts and launched his marketing campaign towards Warren.

In his guide, Deaton writes he was raped as a toddler and realized to show to remedy as an older grownup.

“Life isn’t edited, and neither ought to my guide,” he instructed Boston.com final 12 months.

Within the memoir, Deaton admits to statutory rape, saying he started a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old when he was 21. He additionally offered marijuana, drove drunk, and was concerned in lots of of bodily fights, he wrote within the guide.

“I began with nothing, a damaged residence, battling poverty and violence, residing on meals stamps,” Deaton stated within the marketing campaign video, “however once I joined the Marines, I realized it doesn’t matter the place you come from, it issues the way you do the job earlier than you so I stored pushing.”

Molly Farrar is a common project reporter for Boston.com, specializing in schooling, politics, crime, and extra.