Let me be clear: Gabriel Gomez doesn’t have a political record. He’s a private-equity- investor-turned-political candidate with infinitely more experience flying military planes and executing Navy SEAL missions overseas than standing behind a podium in the Boston area.

His opponent is Ed Markey, who has represented the state of Massachusetts on Capitol Hill since 1976 — in every aspect, Markey’s your typical Washington politician, well-versed in hellbent partisanship and decked out in dark, untainted blue. On the basis of political experience alone, Gomez doesn’t stand a chance against a man consumed by the inner workings of the federal government for almost 40 years now. The brilliance of Ronald Reagan, the shock of the Miracle on Ice, and the decline of the Soviet Union all came well after Markey’s first year on Capitol Hill.

And, in the most recent U.S. Senate debate, the discrepancy in political know-how was on full display. Despite recovering in time to finish strong, Gomez came across as somewhat raw, untested, and overwhelmed by the pressures of the moment. He’s never participated in such a high-stakes debate setting before, and it showed. By no means was the debate an abject failure (Markey certainly had his share of forgettable moments), but the limitations of Gabriel Gomez as a politician were apparent.

Yet, Gomez still has so much to offer.

On the basis of political potential, it’s not even close. Markey has already peaked, so to speak, offering Americans the same old liberal lip service and irresponsible solutions to recurring dilemas for almost four decades. He’ll vote with his party pretty much every single time — which Gomez illuminated rather well last night — and avoid altering the age-old leftist orthodoxy in Washington. Gomez, an embodiment of the moderate political candidate that too often eludes American voters, brings something new to the table.

From social issues to background checks, he’s anything but your typical conservative. Gomez actually donated to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. He’s a Republican in some regards, yes, but moderation and steady bipartisanship are his calling cards. (So, yes, you can call him a RINO if you so choose.)

In today’s political climate — characterized by endless squabbling and bickering and ideological polarization — the name of Gabriel Gomez brings with it a gust of fresh air, capable of transcending dark blue and deep red to usher in a healthier era.

Just look at the recent Gallup numbers. Today, only about 15% of Americans approve of the job that Congress is doing, citing crippling partisanship as a major reason. In 2001, that number stood at 59%. People are finally fed up with the same left-wingers and right-wingers taking the same stubborn stances to deal with the same annoying problems. It seems like a cliche at this point, but bipartisan visionaries are needed to break deadlocks and halt filibusters.

That’s the main appeal of a moderate Republican like Gabriel Gomez (as was the case with Scott Brown in 2010). He might be a RINO with some questionable views, but Americans deserve more political candidates who can stem the stubborn partisan tide.