John Deaton discusses his new campaign for Senate in Mass.

Republican John Deaton is back in the political mix in Massachusetts following a failed bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024.

This time around, Deaton is running for the seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey. He believes voters are ready for a change in political priorities.

“Polling suggests already that I could edge out Ed Markey … 1.35 million people voted for me last time, and now, I want to reach another million,” he said.

One obvious difference from 2024 is the competitive Democratic primary in 2026. Rep. Seth Moulton has already announced a primary challenge to Markey, while other Democrats like Rep. Ayanna Pressley are rumored to be considering a similar move.

“While Ed Markey and them are fighting it out in a primary, I’ll be able to bring that common-sense message,” Deaton said.

Deaton secured the endorsement of the Massachusetts Republican Party on Thursday. Some — like former Senate and gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl — have suggested that President Donald Trump is already backing Deaton’s candidacy.

“The White House hasn’t made any endorsement that I’m aware of, and I haven’t had any conversations,” said Deaton. “I don’t believe President Trump even knows that I exist.”

Deaton maintains he isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone, and when pressed on whether having Trump’s support would be helpful, he remained noncommittal.

“I don’t know if it would be helpful or not,” he said. “I really haven’t spent time thinking about it.”

While Deaton toes that line, he’s focusing on the issues and convincing voters why he is the best choice for Massachusetts in 2026.

“I got in this race because I see people losing faith,” said Deaton.

You can hear more from Deaton this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. during our @Issue Sit Down segment. Political Reporter Matt Prichard digs deeper into Deaton’s thoughts on Trump and his policies, plus how much of Deaton’s personal money is being funneled into his campaign.