GOP's John Deaton close to announcing U.S. Senate bid against Ed Markey

John Deaton, a Republican who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren last year, is on the cusp of announcing that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Ed Markey, according to multiple Republican sources.

Deaton in recent months has floated his interest in challenging Markey and started recruiting political consultants this summer to help run a campaign against the 79-year-old Democrat.

News that he is nearing a formal entrance into the race comes just days after U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Salem Democrat, announced he was mounting a primary challenge against Markey.

Deaton, 58, is a cryptocurrency attorney and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He moved to Massachusetts last year from Rhode Island.

Two members of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee confirmed they are planning to attend an event next month in Worcester where Deaton is expected to be officially announce his run.

“He mentioned it to me, we did have a discussion about him potentially running,” state Rep. Paul Frost, an Auburn Republican, said in an interview.

State Sen. Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican, said there is an event in Worcester on Nov. 10 that he is “presuming” will be Deaton’s announcement. WBUR obtained a copy of the Nov. 10 invitation.

“Personally, I like John,” Durant said in an interview. “I had a chance to know him a little bit through the last campaign. I think he's a smart individual. He's had a colorful upbringing, but I think he makes a good candidate.”

One Republican source with knowledge of the event said it will be at a restaurant in downtown Worcester. The source requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Reached by phone, Deaton said, “I’m leaning toward it, but still having conversations.” He has not yet filed papers with the Federal Election Commission.

Deaton ran a well-financed campaign against Warren during the 2024 election cycle. He easily glided to victory in the Republican primary over two other opponents but lost to Warren in the November election after pulling in only 40% of the 3.5 million votes cast, according to state data.

Deaton previously said he believes voters have had enough of Markey, that he thinks he can beat the incumbent senator.

He said Massachusetts is facing an affordability crisis and needs a new leader to address it.

He had just over $48,000 in campaign cash on hand as of Dec. 31, 2024, according to federal data. Moulton had more than $2.1 million in his campaign account, and Markey had over $2.6 million as of Sept. 30, federal campaign finance filings show.

Markey, in an interview with WBUR this week, said he feels “more energized than ever” to stay in the Senate and stand up to Trump.

A poll of 750 likely general election voters in Massachusetts released last month by the Fiscal Alliance Foundation found that 62% of respondents said Markey should not seek a third six-year term in Washington.