Markey Defeats Moulton in Massachusetts Primary

Senator Ed Markey won the Democratic primary for S. Senate in Massachusetts on Tuesday, defeating S. Rep. Seth Moulton, according to projections from CNN's Decision Desk and a call by the Associated Press. The AP called the race at 8:31 , with Markey leading Moulton 75.9% to 24.1% after 3% of ballots were tallied; unofficial tallies later showed Markey winning 72.7% to 27.3%. Markey, 80, was seeking a third full term, while Moulton, 47, a six-term congressman from the 6th District, framed the race as a call for generational change.

Markey, who first joined Congress in 1976 and has served in the House and Senate for five decades, cast himself as the more progressive, anti-establishment option. "Tonight is a testament to the power of the progressive movement," Markey said Tuesday night. "It is a progressive movement fueled by young people demanding more from their leaders." He noted he had spoken to Moulton before taking the stage and said he looked forward to working together "to build a better future for everyone."

Moulton conceded and congratulated Markey, conveying his "full support" for the Democratic nominee and stressing that they "must stand united this November to protect our democracy and defeat Donald Trump." Moulton, who first won election in 2014, said his campaign "stood on principle" and "elevated the voices of Massachusetts citizens left behind."

A Race About Age and Experience

Moulton made Markey's age and long tenure central to his campaign, arguing it was time for new leadership. "This is why we need a new generation of leaders to regulate these technologies," Moulton said at a debate, seizing on Markey's stumble while answering a question about AI regulations. Markey responded: "I've always been the youngest guy in the world when it comes to ideas." In a WHDH-TV/University of New Hampshire poll released in late August, more than half of Moulton's supporters cited Markey's age as the main reason for their vote.

Markey rebutted age concerns by pointing to his experience. "Experience is what you use in order to create change. That is what I have done," he said during their first debate in July. He also said he was "more energized than ever" and noted that if reelected, he would not seek a fourth term—he would be 86 at the end of the term in 2032.

The primary came as Democratic voters in other states unseated long-serving incumbents, but Massachusetts bucked that trend. Markey, a co-author of the Green New Deal and a champion of Medicare for All, had the backing of national progressives including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Moulton, who has not endorsed single-payer healthcare and took more moderate positions on some issues, was unable to overcome Markey's appeal to younger voters.

Policy Clashes and Transgender Rights

The campaign featured sharp policy disagreements, particularly on healthcare and transgender rights. Moulton criticized Markey's support for the Green New Deal and his 1996 telecommunications law as outdated models for regulating modern technology. He also apologized for comments made after the 2024 election, when he said he did not want his daughters "getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete." In an interview with The New York Times, Moulton said, "I'm sorry if I hurt anyone because that was not my intention. But I absolutely stand by the need to have a conversation about these tough issues."

Markey, one of the few Democrats to lean into transgender rights in the closing weeks, accused Moulton of throwing transgender children "under the bus." "They're entitled to constitutional protections," Markey said. He also emphasized LGBTQ+ protections and Medicare for All in his victory speech, and said Trump is "attacking the futures, the dreams, of every boy and every girl."

Other Races and the General Election

The primary also tested Democratic voters' appetite for change in other Massachusetts races. In the 8th District, moderate Rep. Stephen Lynch, in Congress since 2001, faced a well-funded, younger challenger. In the 6th District, White House alum Daniel Koh, backed by former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, ran in a crowded field to succeed Moulton, who has four months left in office.

Markey will face Republican John Deaton in the general election. Deaton previously ran against Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024 but was defeated. Massachusetts is heavily Democratic, and Markey is favored to win a third full term in November.