Senate candidate John Deaton reportedly close to securing Mass. GOP endorsement

Politics

The endorsement would likely help Deaton clear the field of potential primary challengers as he seeks the Senate seat held by Democrat Ed Markey.

After announcing his intentions to run for the Senate seat held by Sen. Ed Markey, Republican John Deaton is reportedly close to securing the endorsement of the Massachusetts Republican Party. 

Such a development would effectively shut down any other Republicans who may be considering a primary run against Deaton. 

On the Democratic side, Markey is already facing a primary challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton. Rep. Ayanna Pressley is reportedly considering a run as well. 

Deaton only launched his campaign this week, but members of the Republican State Committee are already circulating a letter calling on the body to officially endorse Deaton, per The Boston Globe. Of the committee’s 80 members, at least 52 have already signed on to the letter. 

When contacted by Boston.com Wednesday, Mass. GOP Chair Amy Carnevale provided a copy of a separate letter from some members of the State Committee formally requesting that the full committee vote on a Deaton endorsement during a meeting scheduled for Nov. 20. Party rules require that at least 10 committee members support an item before it can be properly considered. This threshold has been reached, Carnevale said, and a vote will take place at that meeting. 

“It’s clear that John Deaton has strong support within the Republican Party and within the leadership of the Mass GOP, and I look forward to hearing from John at the Nov. 20 state committee meeting,” Carnevale told the Globe.

Deaton is a cryptocurrency advocate and personal injury lawyer who made his first foray into electoral politics last year when he attempted to oust Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Deaton ran as a moderate, positioning himself as an independent voice not aligned with the MAGA wing of the Republican Party and someone not willing to vote for President Donald Trump. He made up some late ground in the race after two contentious debates, but Warren easily triumphed in the end. 

With Trump in the White House, the political situation for Deaton and Republicans has changed. In the letter circulated by committee members supportive of Deaton, they said that the candidate has “learned from his mistakes.” 

“A Deaton campaign in 2026 will not be about opposing President Trump; rather, it will be about putting partisan politics aside and doing what is best for Massachusetts,” the letter reads, according to the Globe.