Sen. Ed Markey, Republican John Deaton face off in general election debate

Tim Dunn, Boston Herald on Oct 13, 2026

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Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey took on his Republican challenger John Deaton in a live televised debate on WBZ-TV Tuesday night, hitting on everything from U.S. foreign policy and the country’s current economic state to issues directly facing Massachusetts.

Markey also continued the Democrat playbook of tying his opponent to President Donald Trump.

Markey took just seven seconds to mention Trump in his opening monologue, going on to refer to or blame the president a whopping total of 46 times throughout the debate, something Deaton worked tirelessly to call out and counter.

“Thank you, John. Thank you to WBZ. I’m going to Washington to be a check on Donald Trump. Mr. Deaton is going to Washington to be a blank check for Donald Trump. Mr. Deaton is the elephant in the room. He is going be another vote for Donald Trump down on the floor of the United States Senate, he will be the key vote, giving the majority to the Republicans to keep their monopoly in the House, the Senate, and the presidency,” Markey said to open up the debate.

Markey’s opening reflected the same tactic being utilized by Democrats across the country, and closer to home, by Gov. Maura Healey in her reelection bid against Republican challenger Mike Minogue. In last week’s debate between Healey and Minogue, also on WBZ-TV, Healey referred to Trump over 30 times in an attempt to tie Minogue to what her supporters would call the worst aspects of Trump’s policies.

“He’s (Deaton) going to go down there, be a vote for John Thune to be the Senate majority leader, and then all Republicans from Ted Cruz all the way down will continue to chair these committees, and we will see no fundamental changes from what we’ve seen in the first two years of Donald Trump with a Republican-controlled Senate,” added Markey later in the debate.

Deaton worked to counter this tactic, repeatedly reminding viewers, and Markey, that he has never voted for Trump and has criticized him on numerous policies and decisions as president.

“Senator, my God, I have to do the same thing I did with Seth Moulton: I am John Deaton, and I’m the one that is debating you, not Donald Trump. And speaking of debate, why is this the only debate?” he asked.

Deaton kicked off the debate with an attack on Markey for his public support of controversial former Democratic U.S. Senator in Maine Graham Platner, also slamming Markey for refusing to answer why he supported him.

Markey dodged directly answering for his support of Platner, instead going on to explain why it is critical Democrats gain back control of the U.S. Senate in order to stop Trump from advancing more of his agenda.

“To everyone out there, you noticed that he never addressed the question. He just wants to continue to mislead and gaslight the public,” said Deaton.

Markey attempted to defend attacks from Deaton on his perceived lack of residency in Massachusetts, his 53-year tenure in Congress, as well as his record, particularly related to issues like his support of the Green New Deal, a “Trans Bill of Rights,” and more. Throughout he continued to link Deaton with Trump, eventually spawning repetitive fights over who does and does not support the president.

“Red herring, red herring, red herring, red herring. Let’s keep coming back to the elephant in the room. That’s John Deaton and Donald Trump,” Markey said.

“I was born in Malden, raised in Malden, lived in Malden my entire life. Why am I concerned right now? Because those people in Malden have been targeted by Donald Trump,” Markey snapped back in defense. “Their food bills are up, their electricity bills are up, their home heating bills are up, their health care bills are up, all across the board. They want answers right now and I’m going to tell you, there can be no answer if he continues to control the House and the Senate.”

This prompted moderator and WBZ’s political analyst Jon Keller to convince the two to move on from Trump several times.

“I’m hearing repetition here, I want to move on to another question. Thank you gentlemen,” Keller interjected in an attempt to steer the conversation away from Trump.

Tuesday’s clash was the only general election debate Markey and Deaton will participate in after Markey backed out of another already scheduled debate this month.

Markey and Deaton will face off in the general election on November 3.

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