All Eyes on the Massachusetts Primary Elections [OPINION]
The most important primary election in the country will take place today. But Joe Kennedy vs. Ed Markey for the Senate isn't alone in importance.
Massachusetts is ground zero in the internal war for control of the Democratic Party. The results of these local Democratic Party primaries will also have a large impact on the direction of the United States of America for decades.
The left wing of the Democratic Party is represented by the four female members of Congress known as "The Squad." Less than two years ago, those four U.S. Representatives were not yet in Congress and they were mostly unknown to the world. Times have changed.
Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both women of color, won come-from-behind elections. Both defeated powerful white male Congressmen and shook up the politics of the Democratic Party.
Now, these left-wing forces want to repeat what AOC and Pressley did by defeating Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal, the current Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The full forces of AOC and her network are behind Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse in his attempt to send Rep. Neal into the ashbin of history.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is also on the frontline against Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III in the Massachusetts Senate primary. The battle between Sen. Markey and Rep. Kennedy has turned nasty and even dangerous. Some of the supporters of Markey have been publicly wishing someone would murder Kennedy just like other maniacs assassinated his great uncle President John F. Kennedy and his grandfather Senator Robert F. Kennedy. AOC has been appearing in commercials for Markey and her network has been pouring money into the effort.
There is also an enormous field of Democrats looking to win the primary to succeed Rep. Kennedy in the seat he is vacating to run for Senate.
The political world will be focused on Massachusetts this Tuesday and it will probably be a late night or more. The United States House and Senate might be in for some major change based on the votes of Massachusetts.
Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.