Ed Markey’s support from progressive leaders included Vermont independent senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The senator has promoted a universal single-payer healthcare system and broad clean-energy policies under the Green New Deal.
Guardian US news reported that Markey defeated Seth Moulton in Tuesday’s Massachusetts Democratic primary, overcoming a challenge focused on his age. The Massachusetts contest put the question of a lawmaker’s longevity at the center of the campaign, with Moulton arguing that Markey was too old to perform effectively.
According to the Associated Press, the 80-year-old incumbent easily beat his 47-year-old opponent. Massachusetts is heavily Democratic, so Markey is favored to win a full term in the general election against Republican nominee John Deaton.
The result reverses a pattern seen in several other Democratic primaries this year, where long-serving incumbents lost to younger progressive candidates. Markey has long backed progressive causes, while Moulton has taken more moderate positions on some issues.
Moulton was born after Markey first won election to the House in 1976 and first won his own Massachusetts congressional district in 2014. During an August debate, Markey defended his energy and activity by describing his travel across the state and his work for families.
Moulton criticized Markey for holding fewer town halls and candidate forums, then challenged the senator after Markey gave an unspecific answer about the artificial intelligence tools he used. Moulton said the exchange showed why a new generation of leaders was needed to regulate the technologies safely.
Before the vote, polls showed Markey with a sizable advantage over Moulton. Moulton had also apologized shortly before the primary for remarks about transgender athletes, comments made after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in 2024.
Markey previously defeated a challenge from Joe Kennedy III in 2020. His latest victory leaves him positioned as the Democratic favorite in a state where the party holds a strong advantage.