Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) has announced that she will not be challenging Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) in the Democratic primary next September.

Pressley made the announcement Tuesday, instead announcing that she will be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

In a surprising move, Pressley’s decision comes after recent polling placed her as the frontrunner against the incumbent Markey and his only primary challenger thus far in Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06).

“Hearing from so many people from throughout our Commonwealth encouraging me to run for the United States Senate was deeply humbling and a testament to the strength of our movement,” Pressley said. “It would be an honor to serve the whole Commonwealth—but with our daughter in her last year at home before college and a district that has been in the crosshairs of this White House, I am certain that the Massachusetts 7th is where I belong in this moment.”

A recent UNH Survey Center poll found that 74% of likely Democratic voters have a favorable opinion of Pressley, crushing both Markey (55%) and Moulton (34%) in that category. Just 6% of those polled viewed Pressley unfavorably, lower than Markey’s 11% and Moulton’s 22%. Only Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who just recently won re-election to the city’s corner office and has not commented on rumors about a possible Senate bid, polled higher than Pressley, with 79% of those polled viewing her favorably.

In her announcement, Pressley listed the defense of her district from the Trump administration as one of the reasons she decided to run for re-election.

“That’s why I’m running for re-election to the House of Representatives—to continue building community, governing in close partnership and proximity to my constituents, and continue making progress for the district I’ve proudly represented for the past six years,” Pressley said. “Now, more than ever, is the time to dig deep, to lean into mutual aid, and to use every tool available to stand in the gap in defense of our neighbors and our democracy.”

The congresswoman says she will discuss her vision for the Democratic Party at a “State of the Seventh” address in the coming weeks.

Pressley was first elected to Congress in 2018, defeating longtime Congressman Michael Capuano and becoming the first Black woman elected to represent Massachusetts in Congress. She has been re-elected three times since then, most recently in 2024 when she ran unopposed.

The Herald has reached out to Sen. Markey, Rep. Moulton and Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Steve Kerrigan for comment.