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senseandsensibility

(25,655 posts)
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:47 PM Tuesday

Al Green has lost his primary

Last edited Wed May 27, 2026, 03:00 PM - Edit history (1)

He lost after being forced to compete due to redistricting. Perhaps his opponent will be good, but it's a shame. I've always liked him. I wish that the Dems had supported him when he walked out on trump during the SOTU and took other strong actions in the early days of trump's second term. You never had to question where he was coming from, unlike some who were playing footsie with Rs back then. Thank you for your service, Rep. Green!

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Al Green has lost his primary (Original Post) senseandsensibility Tuesday OP
Thank you. I was hoping someone more familiar than I am with his career would post something like this. eppur_se_muova Tuesday #1
Yes, I'm not too familiar with this race either senseandsensibility Tuesday #2
Green is 78. Menefee is 38. cachukis Tuesday #3
I still feel that Al Green "brought the fire" senseandsensibility Tuesday #5
No question. Love his tenacity. There is a movement cachukis Tuesday #8
Ed Markey was able to get young people on his side last time he ran for Senate AZProgressive Tuesday #9
I can't believe a Kennedy tried to primary him BaronChocula Tuesday #18
Kennedy's are known for that Polybius Wednesday #25
Ha! BaronChocula Wednesday #35
Markey still impresses when he's on MSNOW dflprincess Tuesday #20
I spent quite a bit of phone time with Seth Moulton two months ago DFW Wednesday #32
The last poll I read (early May) showed a 5 point spread between Markey and Moulton peggysue2 Wednesday #38
Markey is a true progressive senseandsensibility Tuesday #10
X1000 yorkster Tuesday #11
I don't think anyone is actually trying to get rid of him AZProgressive Tuesday #12
This! Each is individual case! electric_blue68 Tuesday #19
he is still 78...and has served 21 years in the House agingdem Wednesday #26
Close but bottomofthehill Wednesday #28
Al Green is a Texas US Congressman.. agingdem Wednesday #37
Agree 100% malaise Wednesday #29
Massachusetts voters will choose karynnj Wednesday #33
Yes, age should not be the first and primary consideration PatSeg Wednesday #34
And AIPAC is celebrating Green's lost. rogue emissary Wednesday #36
He's a good guy - TBF Tuesday #4
Yes, they both should have a seat senseandsensibility Tuesday #6
that's how I feel - TBF Wednesday #41
Al Green was one of the few fighters. Nanjeanne Tuesday #7
According to Progressive Punch, Menefee has a better voting score this session - 98.99% to 98.48% for Green. Wiz Imp Tuesday #13
Maybe, but without republicon cheating FoxNewsSucks Tuesday #15
I use GovTrack to keep track of who is more liberal or conservative AZProgressive Tuesday #17
Helpful resource, hadn't heard of it before blue_jay Wednesday #45
Yes. Go to their home page progressive punch.org Wiz Imp Wednesday #46
That's a fucking shame. FoxNewsSucks Tuesday #14
I Keep Reading This As "Al Green Has Lost His Memory." ColoringFool Tuesday #16
A geniune and FEISTY man! I wish we had more of them.. eom Exp Tuesday #21
What a great man. I am so very sorry to read of this. mahina Wednesday #22
the bright side: he can still hold people accountable IzzaNuDay Wednesday #23
Good Polybius Wednesday #24
He's not a "new guy" MichMan Wednesday #27
My mistake Polybius Wednesday #31
Just younger - and yes I like Christian too TBF Wednesday #40
Love Green but I welcome the new generation of fighters Mysterian Wednesday #30
My congressman Al Green is the bomb - this is what he has to say today: TBF Wednesday #39
I would expect nothing less than that statement senseandsensibility Wednesday #42
I for one will miss his rendition of 'Let's Stay Together' KG Wednesday #43
Congressman Al Green Releases Statement in Response to President Trump's Truth Social Post About the Election. LetMyPeopleVote Wednesday #44

eppur_se_muova

(42,607 posts)
1. Thank you. I was hoping someone more familiar than I am with his career would post something like this.
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:49 PM
Tuesday

Last edited Tue May 26, 2026, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope Rachel gives him a good farewell segment.

senseandsensibility

(25,655 posts)
2. Yes, I'm not too familiar with this race either
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:53 PM
Tuesday

But apparently, Rep. Green and another incumbent, Christian Menefee, were forced to face off because of the redistricting.

senseandsensibility

(25,655 posts)
5. I still feel that Al Green "brought the fire"
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:00 PM
Tuesday

and was not part of the old guard to put it mildly.

cachukis

(4,102 posts)
8. No question. Love his tenacity. There is a movement
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:07 PM
Tuesday

to more youthful candidates with a more geriatric government on display.
I worry for Markey, for example, whose knowledge and legislative expertise may suffer an age comeuppance.
Boomers are baggage to some.

AZProgressive

(30,005 posts)
9. Ed Markey was able to get young people on his side last time he ran for Senate
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:10 PM
Tuesday

Including in the primary -- I think groups such as Sunrise Movement helped with that effort.

He may still be able to but I haven't kept up with him much since that 2020 Senate election in Massachusetts.

BaronChocula

(4,815 posts)
35. Ha!
Wed May 27, 2026, 12:26 PM
Wednesday

How about that. At least Bobby was reluctant at first and had things a little more thought through.

dflprincess

(29,433 posts)
20. Markey still impresses when he's on MSNOW
Tue May 26, 2026, 10:22 PM
Tuesday

I did see he's being challenged in the primary by Rep Seth Moulton (think I spelled that right). I don't know anything about him but have seen comments that he'd be the "next Kyrsten Sinema".

DFW

(60,501 posts)
32. I spent quite a bit of phone time with Seth Moulton two months ago
Wed May 27, 2026, 11:04 AM
Wednesday

We were at the same event over New Year’s but never got to chat.

He certainly seemed liberal enough to me, definitely no Sinema, though we didn’t cover all subjects.

Markey seems liberal enough, too, but he was one of the ones who cruelly trashed Al Franken and (as far as I know) never apologized to Al. If he wins the nomination, I hope he wins re-election. However, if he loses the nomination, I will not have a second thought over supporting Moulton.

peggysue2

(12,624 posts)
38. The last poll I read (early May) showed a 5 point spread between Markey and Moulton
Wed May 27, 2026, 01:21 PM
Wednesday

That's not huge for an incumbent.

I think there's a generational thing going on with a lot of these races. Moulton, Platner, Talerico, etc. are young and represent the yearning for a changing-of-the-guard, fresh faces, fresh ideas., etc. All the complaints about our aging leadership, the fact that the fire in the belly, the willingness to take risks are diminished, absent are playing out for 2026.

Is that enough for Moulton? Don't know. He's certainly not a firebrand progressive; he'd be considered a moderate by most voters. I don't think he's a Kyrsten Sinema clone but I'm reluctant to make predictions after John Fetterman's reversals.

Moulton appears to be playing up the age difference. That could easily be a mistake, a clear way to piss off voters in Massachusetts. Markey is respected and loved by many. If I recall, Moulton pushed the same age argument against Joe Biden at the end of 2024.

That pissed me off.

We shall see.

senseandsensibility

(25,655 posts)
10. Markey is a true progressive
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:12 PM
Tuesday

He hasn't lost a step, so IMHO it would be foolish to lose his expertise and experience. It's true that some need to go, but painting with a broad brush is not the answer.

AZProgressive

(30,005 posts)
12. I don't think anyone is actually trying to get rid of him
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:25 PM
Tuesday

Last time Joe Kennedy who Pelosi endorsed ran against him and young people actually backed Markey. I see Wikipedia has that he is "an icon to Gen Z activists" on his Wikipedia page so personally I don't see that happening with Markey.

agingdem

(8,978 posts)
26. he is still 78...and has served 21 years in the House
Wed May 27, 2026, 06:32 AM
Wednesday

Last edited Wed May 27, 2026, 07:12 AM - Edit history (1)

which makes him part of the old guard..two decades in Congress is more than enough..it's way past time for the old guard to step aside and make room for a new generation of progressive Democrats...and yes it is an ageism thing..120 members of Congress are 70 years old and over..a congressional seat should not be a life time appointment and a conduit to wealth but sadly that's what it's become regardless of " he's one of the good guys"...

bottomofthehill

(9,435 posts)
28. Close but
Wed May 27, 2026, 07:33 AM
Wednesday

He actually served nearly 40 years in the House and about 12 in the Senate. He was first elected to office in about 1970 As a member of the great and general court (state House of Representatives). I would still happily vote for him over Seth Moulton.

agingdem

(8,978 posts)
37. Al Green is a Texas US Congressman..
Wed May 27, 2026, 12:49 PM
Wednesday

I'm not sure how this became about Massachusetts...but ok

karynnj

(61,135 posts)
33. Massachusetts voters will choose
Wed May 27, 2026, 11:44 AM
Wednesday

There are few better on the environment and climate change. He is articulate and convincing when he speaks on TV or in the Senate. He seems to be a very competent legislator.

In fact, the only reason I can think it would be good to elect someone younger is that BOTH Massachusetts Senators are among the older members which means that you can predict that 8 years from now both will have ended their excellent careers and MA will have two Senators in their first terms. ( That assumes that Markey wins now and Warren runs and wins in 2030 when she is 80 and neither runs again in 32 or 36. If Warren does not run in 2030, MA will have 2 freshmen in 2032.)

PatSeg

(53,672 posts)
34. Yes, age should not be the first and primary consideration
Wed May 27, 2026, 12:04 PM
Wednesday

Some of our best and most progressive members of congress are well over 70. Experience is still an important attribute that should not be ignored.

If and when a person can no longer do the job effectively because of age and/or health, yes it is probably time to stepdown, but to set someone aside due to age only, is not a good precedent to set.

TBF

(37,352 posts)
4. He's a good guy -
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:00 PM
Tuesday

I'm sorry to see him lose. He ran in the newly created 18th (after they gerry-mandered him out of his district). The winner is also a young progressive so it's not as bad as some of the races. Still sad to lose Rep. Green though.

TBF

(37,352 posts)
41. that's how I feel -
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:59 PM
Wednesday

I know Christian is probably a little more progressive, but Al really fought for the people. In a better world Al would have been a mentor to Christian .. and who knows - maybe behind the scenes he is.

Wiz Imp

(10,528 posts)
13. According to Progressive Punch, Menefee has a better voting score this session - 98.99% to 98.48% for Green.
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:27 PM
Tuesday

Also, for his whole career, Green's voting record is not nearly as good - Progressive Punch rates him a D. I predict Menefee will be a better Representative than Green.

https://progressivepunch.org/scores.htm?topic=&house=house&sort=overall-current&order=down&party=D

https://progressivepunch.org/proto/record.jsp?member=400653

https://progressivepunch.org/proto/record.jsp?member=413035

AZProgressive

(30,005 posts)
17. I use GovTrack to keep track of who is more liberal or conservative
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:33 PM
Tuesday

These are usually a couple years behind but it keeps track going back to at least a decade.

For 2024 Al Green was tied with Jasmine Crockett and Becca Balint who are both terrific congress women.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2024/house/ideology

I'm usually ok with anyone to the left of Henry Cuellar though.

blue_jay

(295 posts)
45. Helpful resource, hadn't heard of it before
Wed May 27, 2026, 05:43 PM
Wednesday

Is there a way to search out the specific changes in the legislation, etc. voted on somewhere on the website? Would be helpful to be able to understand reasoning (if any) behind the no (and yes) votes for specific votes, sometimes without the details the vote totals can be misleading.

Wiz Imp

(10,528 posts)
46. Yes. Go to their home page progressive punch.org
Wed May 27, 2026, 07:02 PM
Wednesday

There you should have the ability to search anybody in Congress by name. Go to that person's page and it will show you all of their votes. To find the specific contents of a bill, you should be able to go to Congress.gov and search on the number and/or name of the bill.

mahina

(20,754 posts)
22. What a great man. I am so very sorry to read of this.
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:06 AM
Wednesday

With immense respect, gratitude and aloha.

IzzaNuDay

(1,350 posts)
23. the bright side: he can still hold people accountable
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:20 AM
Wednesday

Like Sen. Massie, they could form a coalition. Just a thought!

TBF

(37,352 posts)
40. Just younger - and yes I like Christian too
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:57 PM
Wednesday

improvement is that he's younger & if that helps get out the vote I'll take it.

Al Green has been my current rep and he was great. It is a damned shame they were forced to run against each other given Gov. Abbott's gerrymandering spree.

Mysterian

(6,670 posts)
30. Love Green but I welcome the new generation of fighters
Wed May 27, 2026, 10:20 AM
Wednesday

Green has deserved his retirement and I know he will keep on fighting.

TBF

(37,352 posts)
39. My congressman Al Green is the bomb - this is what he has to say today:
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:54 PM
Wednesday

May 27, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION Teque'lia Lewis, Press Secretary
May 27, 2026 Press Phone: 202-430-0125
Email: algreen.press@mail.house.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY AND PUBLIC NOTICE
Congressman Al Green Releases Statement in Response to President Trump’s Truth Social Post About the Election

(Houston, TX) — On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“Friends, click here to see President Trump’s comments about my election. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. President, but you will hear from me again. I have more than enough time left in Congress to continue calling out your corruption. Sincerely, your unbought, unbossed, unafraid, unelected, liberated democrat - Al Green, The People’s Congressman.”

LetMyPeopleVote

(182,642 posts)
44. Congressman Al Green Releases Statement in Response to President Trump's Truth Social Post About the Election.
Wed May 27, 2026, 04:20 PM
Wednesday
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Al Green has lost his pri...