FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2026

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Vincent Errichetti

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Press@johndeatonforsenate.com

Deaton Puts People Over Party in Sharp Senate Debate

BOSTON, MA – In last night’s WBZ pre-primary debate, Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton delivered a clear message: Massachusetts needs a fighter who puts working families and common sense ahead of partisan loyalty and career politicians.

Deaton repeatedly contrasted his independent approach with the partisan politics of his opponents, emphasizing results for the people of Massachusetts over party agendas.

“Notice he didn’t say one major bill that he passed. He talks about proposed legislation. I can propose a lot of things,” Deaton said. “The real hard work is writing laws, and I’m a lawyer; I know how to do it and doing the hard work to get it done.”

He continued: “Let me tell you the difference between Seth Moulton and Markey and John Deaton. They stand before you as Democrats. I stand before you as an American. I don’t have loyalty to a person, a party, or an agenda; just common sense and the Constitution.”

Deaton did not shy away from criticizing both sides of the aisle. “F the Republican Party. F the Democrat Party. They all suck,” he declared. “You need someone like me who will stand up for America and working people. I’ve done it all my life, and I’ll do it in the Senate.”

On Ed Markey’s long tenure, Deaton was direct: “Fifty-three years is enough. He hasn’t shown up, and that’s why he should be fired.”

Throughout the debate, Deaton focused on practical solutions for Massachusetts families struggling with high costs:

• Energy: Highlighted Massachusetts electricity rates at 33 cents per kilowatt hour versus 16 cents in Maryland, and proposed small modular nuclear reactors to power 40% of the state’s electricity and save families up to $600 per month.
• Immigration: Called for expanding legal immigration while enforcing the law with zero tolerance for illegal immigration and asylum abuse. “We gotta have sensible, common sense solutions. I have them.”
• Transparency: Blasted one-party Democratic control in Massachusetts for ignoring a voter-approved audit of the legislature. “They’re so corrupt and so arrogant, they won’t enforce a law that seventy-two percent of us voted for.” Deaton has joined lawsuits demanding compliance.

On foreign spending, Deaton drew a firm line: “I will not vote for another dollar to go to Ukraine, Israel, Iran, or any other foreign nation unless it is proven with verifiable facts that it is in the best interest of America and the people of Massachusetts… My vote’s not for sale.”

Deaton, a Marine veteran, former federal prosecutor, and attorney who has represented working people against powerful interests for decades, positioned himself as the independent voice Massachusetts needs — focused on performance, not partisanship.

“Massachusetts needs someone like me, an independent voice,” Deaton said. “I never wavered.”

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Extended excerpts: 

1. "Well, thank you, and thank you to everybody listening. Thank you for doing this. Thanks to the studio and Seth. Shame on Senator Markey for not being here. You asked the question: What has he done? Why isn't he here defending 53 years of being in office? Look, you can see I am not a young man by anyone's standard. His first year in elected office, I was six. Seth wasn't even alive, and he's not here to defend his record because he can't. When you ask him, 'What have you done lately?' You wanna know what Senator Markey talks about? He talks about the internet and computers. Senator, that was thirty years ago. And in Maryland, where you pay sixteen cents for electricity per kilowatt hour because Maryland's not subject to your policies, here in Massachusetts we pay thirty-three cents per kilowatt hour. He hasn't shown up, and that's why he should be fired. I think I'm the right guy to take his place, but that's the reason he needs to go. Fifty-three years is enough."

2. "Listen, if you look at Seth's argument, it is simply he's younger than Markey. He sees eye to eye on all the policies. That's not change. That's promotion dressed up as generational change. It's about performance, not just age. And Seth, you know, I'm gonna call you Seth out of respect — I don't believe it's okay, Congressman — but he's been in office for twelve years and he can't name one major bill on housing, health care, or energy that has helped improve the lives of working families. Other than 988, a 988 line, or a United States Marine Corps commemorative coin. We got four hundred and fifty years of history. We don't need a coin, we need policies that change the lives of working families. Name one bill. Go ahead."

3. "I stand before you as an American. I don't have loyalty to a person, a party, or an agenda, just common sense and the Constitution. And Seth, with all due respect, it's all about partisan politics. You talk about the Democrat Party and how you can improve that and the leadership of the Democrat Party. What about America? You guys keep saying, 'When is a Republican gonna stand up to Donald Trump?' I've had three opportunities to vote for him, and I haven't voted once. And when a Republican shows up, like they've been asking for, you know what they say? Don't vote for him. He's a Republican."

4. "Jumping on a bill that someone else proposed and saying it's yours isn't right. When he says, 'Oh, he says this as a Republican, he's gonna get to Washington and vote,' I ran in a Republican primary, not supporting the head of the ticket. Do you know I went to RTC's Republican Town Committees all across the state? I got called all kinds of names. I never wavered. Massachusetts needs someone like me, an independent voice. F the Republican Party. F the Democrat Party. They all suck. You need someone like me who will stand up for America and working people."

5. "I will not vote for another dollar to go to Ukraine, Israel, Iran, or any other foreign nation unless it is proven with verifiable facts that it is in the best interest of America and the people of Massachusetts. When I get to the Senate, I will stop that. I will never vote for that. My vote's not for sale."