Kaufman an ‘Unlikely’ Candidate for Markey’s House Seat

Ed Markey’s election to the US Senate means Lexington voters can plan on making two more trips to the polls this year, but they shouldn’t expect to see their state representative on the ballot.

By besting Republican Gabriel Gomez in the June 25 special election, Markey, a Malden Democrat and longtime congressman, won himself a seat in the United States Senate, the one John Kerry held until his appointment as Secretary of State.

Markey’s former congressional district, the MA-5, includes Lexington, and the pool of candidates is filling rapidly. State Rep. Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, however, has no current plans of jumping in.

“I’m very flattered to have received a lot of encouragement to consider pursuing the congressional seat,” Kaufman told Patch. “But I’m also aware that there are at least five very qualified Democratic candidates in the race, all of them younger than I am, and all of them have the intelligence and political skill to serve us well.

“I’m an unlikely candidate,” Kaufman added.

The Fifth Congressional District ranges from Winthrop to Woburn to Southborough to Holliston. In the days after Markey’s election win—and even before then, actually—a handful of local officials have begun positioning themselves for the Democratic primary.

The early Democratic candidates include state Rep. Carl Sciortino of Medford, state Sens. Will Brownsberger of Belmont, Katherine Clark of Melrose and Karen Spilka of Ashland and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian.

All five filed paperwork prior to Markey’s election to the US Senate, and all except Koutoujian reportedly told the Globe on Wednesday that they were definitely running.

Kaufman not only considers all five to be qualified candidates, he also considers them friends, according to Sean Fitzgerald, his chief of staff.  

Still Kaufman didn’t exactly close the door on a congressional bid. As for what could convince Lexington’s state rep since 1995, to go from “unlikely candidate” to throwing his hat in the ring, Fitzgerald said it would be the urging of constituents. 

And as for Markey, Kaufman said he believes he’ll excel in the new role.

“Certainly very happy about the new senator’s election,” said Kaufman. “I think he’s served us very well in Congress and I anticipate the same for him in the Senate.”