Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

senseandsensibility

(25,935 posts)
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:47 PM May 26

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!

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

eppur_se_muova

(42,857 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
May 26

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

I hope Rachel gives him a good farewell segment.

senseandsensibility

(25,935 posts)
2. Yes, I'm not too familiar with this race either
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:53 PM
May 26

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

senseandsensibility

(25,935 posts)
5. I still feel that Al Green "brought the fire"
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:00 PM
May 26

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

cachukis

(4,164 posts)
8. No question. Love his tenacity. There is a movement
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:07 PM
May 26

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

(30,066 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
May 26

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

(4,942 posts)
35. Ha!
Wed May 27, 2026, 12:26 PM
May 27

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

dflprincess

(29,455 posts)
20. Markey still impresses when he's on MSNOW
Tue May 26, 2026, 10:22 PM
May 26

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

(60,701 posts)
32. I spent quite a bit of phone time with Seth Moulton two months ago
Wed May 27, 2026, 11:04 AM
May 27

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

(12,637 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
May 27

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

(25,935 posts)
10. Markey is a true progressive
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:12 PM
May 26

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

(30,066 posts)
12. I don't think anyone is actually trying to get rid of him
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:25 PM
May 26

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

(9,024 posts)
26. he is still 78...and has served 21 years in the House
Wed May 27, 2026, 06:32 AM
May 27

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

(9,447 posts)
28. Close but
Wed May 27, 2026, 07:33 AM
May 27

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

(9,024 posts)
37. Al Green is a Texas US Congressman..
Wed May 27, 2026, 12:49 PM
May 27

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

karynnj

(61,209 posts)
33. Massachusetts voters will choose
Wed May 27, 2026, 11:44 AM
May 27

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

(53,917 posts)
34. Yes, age should not be the first and primary consideration
Wed May 27, 2026, 12:04 PM
May 27

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

(37,560 posts)
4. He's a good guy -
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:00 PM
May 26

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

(37,560 posts)
41. that's how I feel -
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:59 PM
May 27

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

(10,726 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
May 26

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

(30,066 posts)
17. I use GovTrack to keep track of who is more liberal or conservative
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:33 PM
May 26

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

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

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

(10,726 posts)
46. Yes. Go to their home page progressive punch.org
Wed May 27, 2026, 07:02 PM
May 27

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

(20,812 posts)
22. What a great man. I am so very sorry to read of this.
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:06 AM
May 27

With immense respect, gratitude and aloha.

IzzaNuDay

(1,361 posts)
23. the bright side: he can still hold people accountable
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:20 AM
May 27

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

TBF

(37,560 posts)
40. Just younger - and yes I like Christian too
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:57 PM
May 27

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

(6,709 posts)
30. Love Green but I welcome the new generation of fighters
Wed May 27, 2026, 10:20 AM
May 27

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

TBF

(37,560 posts)
39. My congressman Al Green is the bomb - this is what he has to say today:
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:54 PM
May 27

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

(183,616 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
May 27
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Al Green has lost his pri...