Moulton's Primary Challenge to Markey
Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat and Senate primary candidate in Massachusetts, is challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, framing the contest as a question of generational change. In an interview on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that aired Aug. 23, 2026, Moulton said the political and technological landscape has changed while Markey has run essentially the same campaign as six years ago.
"The world has changed, and Senator Markey is very much running the same campaign he did back in '20," Moulton said. He noted that he and Markey agree on most policy issues, but argued the race is about whether Massachusetts should retain a senator who has served in Washington for 50 years.
"It's not a personal thing with Ed Markey," Moulton said. "It's about whether one Senate seat should belong to one person while the world is moving on without him."
Markey has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 2013, after more than three decades in the House. He co-authored the Green New Deal resolution with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Critiques of Markey's Campaign and Record
Moulton criticized Markey's comparison of AI regulation to auto seatbelt rules in a recent debate, suggesting it showed a lack of understanding of modern technology. He accused Markey of accepting $62,000 from a fund intended to help Democrats capture Republican-held Senate seats, arguing the money should have gone to competitive contests in Maine, Ohio and Alaska.
Moulton also reiterated that he would not support Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader, and said more than seven in 10 Massachusetts Democrats wanted new party leadership.
Moulton's Record and Afghanistan
Moulton defended his work helping Afghans who assisted US forces, claiming his office helped rescue "dozens and dozens" of people after the withdrawal. He sharply criticized the Trump administration's restrictions on Afghan immigration, describing the policies as "basically just racist." He said his office continued working with veterans to move Afghans to safety and was pressing for broader immigration reform.
Background on Moulton's Political Career
Moulton framed his candidacy as part of a long campaign to challenge the Democratic establishment, including pressing for generational change in House leadership, briefly running for President in 2019, and calling on Joe Biden not to seek a second term in 2024. In the interview, he referenced the Boston Globe's endorsement, which was a switch from their prior support of Markey, noting that "the future is now."