Legal expert and pro-XRP lawyer, John Deaton, is poised for a potential political comeback in the 2026 midterm elections. Recent polling suggests he may pose a serious challenge to Senator Ed Markey in Massachusetts. A recent survey commissioned by the Massachusetts Responsible Alliance reveals that a potential race between Deaton and Markey saw Deaton’s support surge after voters learned more about his views. Initially, Markey held a significant lead with 45% of the vote, while Deaton secured only 26%, with undecided voters accounting for another 30%. However, after learning about Deaton’s moderate Republican stance and opposition to Donald Trump, voter sentiment shifted significantly. This shift saw Deaton jump from 26% to 41% in favor, even surpassing Markey at one point. Deaton’s appeal may stem from his perceived independence from the Trump administration, with 43% of voters stating they were more inclined to support him after learning he did not back Trump. However, this same stance could potentially hinder him within a GOP primary, as 37% of Republican-leaning conservatives said they would be less likely to vote for him. Notably, Deaton performed better than Trump in Massachusetts during the 2024 election, achieving a three and a half percentage point advantage, highlighting his support base beyond traditional party lines. The upcoming elections will feature Senator Markey’s age as another factor in the race – he’ll be 80 years old by 2026 with nearly 50 years of experience in Washington D.C., including 37 years in the House and the rest in the Senate. Almost half of those surveyed expressed a decrease in support for him due to his age, according to the poll results. Deaton, now 57 years old, believes he has gained momentum thanks to this survey. He plans to use his experience and campaign platform based on term limits for Congress, which was central to his last campaign, should he choose to run again in 2026. Senator Markey’s response to the poll remains unclear; however, if Deaton decides to challenge him in 2026, he will start with a considerable advantage over the incumbent, thanks to name recognition and political experience gained over his previous campaign.