Alex Rikleen of Acton is mounting a primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, who is up for election next year. The former teacher asked to address local Democrats this week.

Alex Rikleen speaks at the Lenox Town Democratic Committee on Wednesday. 

LENOX, Mass. — Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Alex Rikleen says the country is in an "existential" crisis under the leadership of President Donald Trump. 

"If I were in the Senate right now, I'd be delaying Trump's agenda in every way possible. I'd deny unanimous consent. I'd force quorum calls, I'd place holds on every nomination, and I'd pressure fellow Democrats to do the same on their committees," he told the Lenox Democratic Town Committee on Wednesday.

"We have tools, and even when those tools only slow things down, those delays are crucial to those who are about to be harmed. This is an existential crisis, and our democracy is at risk. We need to do everything we can to ensure survival now, and then we need to prioritize fixing what broke once Democrats are back in power, because repairing our democracy will have to be our top priority when we're back in power."

Rikleen, of Acton, was the first to launch a primary challenge against Edward Markey, who is running for a third term. He is a Massachusetts native and a former history teacher. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton recently announced his intent to run as well.  

He had asked to speak with the town committee; the response was "yes," and he attended the regular meeting in the Church on the Hill Annex. 

"I'm an ordinary Bay Stater, and our state's proud history is of ordinary people stepping forward when our freedoms are under attack," Rikleen said. 

His main priorities are to fix the U.S courts, including the Supreme Court, protect voting rights, and to end "big money" in politics by overturning the Citizens United decision and banning dark money in campaigns. The candidate also supports climate justice, universal health care, gun safety regulations, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive health-care access, and immigrant protections, as well as pathways to citizenship. 

He said Markey has championed ideas that resonate with him. 

"So why am I running for Senate? Because Democrats in Washington are playing it safe," he said. 

"They're betting it all on a strategy of waiting and hoping that we win more seats in the next election, or the election after that, all while people are getting hurt today. As a former history teacher, I've studied this stuff, and when opposition parties play it safe — that's how you lose a democracy." 

He everyone needs health care, a fair economy, and a safe climate, but solutions to those problems won't last if the courts strike them down, or billionaires can buy the outcomes, or the nation can't choose its leaders. This, Rikleen said, is why his campaign's top priorities are structural. 

This includes passing the Freedom to Vote, or John R. Lewis, Act, which would protect voters from race-based discrimination and set minimum standards to enable voters to experience free and fair elections.  

"Lenox is part of a regional economy that depends on tourism, and international tourism is a key part of that, but this administration has slammed the door shut on visitors," he said. 

"Trump's abuse of power, imposing unilateral tariffs, jamming up visa access, and creating a hostile environment for foreign visitors, has driven down international travel." 

He pointed out that Berkshire County's seasonal businesses and cultural venues rely on those guests, and that losing them means economic pain for the area. 

"These abuses by the administration are enabled by a Supreme Court that has repeatedly bent over backward to give this president more leeway to violate the law. These national failures cost us on the local level," the candidate said. 

"This campaign is how we make ourselves heard to say clearly that the status quo isn't working, and the sooner this message spreads, the harder it is for our leaders to ignore." 

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