Sen. Ed Markey defeats Seth Moulton in MA primary

Senator Ed Markey has secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, the Associated Press projected late Tuesday, fending off a primary challenge from six-term Congressman Seth Moulton.

The victory reinforces the progressive wing of the party, even as Democrats nationwide grapple with demands for generational change. Markey, who turned 80 in July, framed his campaign as a defense of enduring progressive values and attacked Trump’s agenda daily. Moulton, 45, had argued Massachusetts needed new leadership, citing his own calls for a “new generation of leaders.” Markey countered by pointing to his decades-long record on Medicare for All, taxing the rich, and opposing Trump’s defense budgets. His supporters, according to recent polls, were more moved by his policy stances than concerns over his age.

The race turned personal when Markey accused Moulton of abandoning transgender rights after Moulton suggested Democrats had to “be able to talk about” trans issues without letting them overshadow other priorities. In a 2024 comment, Moulton said he didn’t want his daughters harmed by biological males in girls’ sports. Markey seized on that line, telling voters Moulton had “thrown those trans kids under the bus.” At a late August debate, Moulton apologized, reaffirmed his support for LGBTQ+ rights, and said he regretted the hurt caused. It was Markey’s second primary upset: he also defeated Representative Joe Kennedy III in 2020 on a similar generational divide.

Markey now faces attorney John Deaton in November. Given Massachusetts’ deep-blue tilt, the general election is widely seen as a formality. Markey’s win signals that progressive incumbents can survive generational challenges when they tie their legacy to core policy battles and mobilize base voters. It also sets up a potential clash in November with a Trump-backed opponent, keeping the state’s Senate race on the national radar.