Ed Markey’s a great guy. As honest as a politician can be, a faithful public servant, a progressive voice from the bluest state in America. He’s running for reelection to the U.S Senate in 2026, yet it’s time for him to go. Why? Because the guy will be eighty years old next year, and no one that age should be entrusted with a six-year term for any office. Period.

Call me ageist, but I’ll lean into the science on this. There’s a natural arc to the age of man, and to every particular man. We ramp up in intelligence and physical capability, hitting our physical peak around age 28, and our mental peak about the same time.

It’s no secret that most great scientific discoveries are made by younger folk. We are accustomed to seeing Einstein as a wizened old man with a mass of great white hair, but when he published his theory of relativity, at age 26, he had close cropped, dark hair and a neat moustache. Einstein added much to world throughout his life, but his truly bold contribution happened when he was young. Similarly, Louis Pasteur was 35 when he introduced the theory of fermentation, Thomas Edison 32 when he invented the incandescent light bulb, Neils Bohr a mere 28 when he described the components of the atom. Each continued to develop and refine, but their novel thinking happened when they were young.

Politicians are not scientists. Their contributions to the world do not rely on an “Aha!” moment. Their skills are better tuned to the wisdom of age. For some reason, as we have less time on this planet, we tend to become more patient; we gain longer perspective. Those are admirable traits in a politician. Thus we find many effective politicians in their 50’s, 60’s, perhaps even into their 70’s,

But at some point, the notion that age connotes wisdom runs smack into the reality that age creates senility. I’m a pretty sharp guy. I’ve tackled some challenging puzzles in my day. At age 70, I’m a full decade younger than Senator Markey. Sure, I forget names. But I also get the occasional brain fog, I miss important connections. I don’t have any diagnosed condition: I’m just getting old. I still have good ideas and well-founded opinions, but I know they’re not as sharp as those I held as a younger man. Fortunately, for me and everyone else, I’m aging gracefully out of any leadership role. No one calls on me to make important decisions anymore.

Democrats love to proclaim themselves the party of science. Except, of course, when the science doesn’t fit their point-of-view. There is no doubt that Ed Markey is less sharp than he was ten years ago, even twenty years ago. That’s not prejudice—it’s science. Time for him to retire graciously, bask on his well-earned laurels, and hand the reins of advocating progressive ideals to a younger person.