Washington (November 20, 2023) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) issued the following statement in response to the passing of Chief of Staff John Walsh:   

“John Walsh was a political genius and a transformational figure in the history of Massachusetts movement building. He believed in the extraordinary capacity of ordinary people. He knew that the path to justice runs through the kitchen tables, civic centers, schools, and town squares in every corner of Massachusetts and our country.  

“John was a visionary who saw talent in everyone, and his genius was hands-on. We see it in the miles of knocked doors, hands he shook, coffee meetings he took, and minds he opened. He didn’t just see ways to change the world; he dedicated his life to changing it himself. He made time for everyone, shared selflessly of his wisdom and experience, and redefined leadership for Massachusetts candidates. John’s legacy will be in the young people he mentored and brought into public service, and the livable future they are fighting for every day.  

“But more than his campaign work, more than Boston sports — both of which he enjoyed discussing immensely — John loved to talk about his family and how they made everything possible for him. My heart and deepest gratitude are with his wife Donna, his son Coleman and his wife Becca, and the entire Walsh family. We will miss him forever.”