Ed Markey Wins Massachusetts Primary Against Seth Moulton

<p class="dropcap">M<span class="smallcaps">any Democrats</span> of a certain age took the same message from the party’s 2024 debacle: Voters are dissatisfied with the old guard and are seeking younger, more aggressive leaders. Nancy Pelosi, the 86-year-old former speaker, announced her exit from the House, as did her longtime lieutenant, 87-year-old Steny Hoyer. Senators Dick Durbin (81) and Jeanne Shaheen (79) also passed up reelection bids this year, along with two senators in their late 60s.</p><p>Senator Ed Markey, 80, did not heed this warning and did not need to. The Massachusetts Democrat is one of just two current senators whose tenures in Congress date back to the presidency of Gerald Ford. In the recent primary, Markey, the oldest Democratic senator on the ballot, won decisively against his younger opponent, Representative Seth Moulton, leading by nearly 50 points as called by the AP shortly after polls closed.</p><p>The primary race highlighted a choice between ideology and age, with Massachusetts Democrats favoring Markey, a progressive stalwart, over the more moderate 47-year-old challenger. Moulton, an Iraq War veteran concluding his sixth term in the House, attempted to appeal to the primary electorate by moving left but could not surpass Markey, who received endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Moulton advocated for a “new generation of leadership,” claiming he could more effectively advocate for liberal causes than an incumbent nearing the end of his career.</p><p>Markey had previously faced similar challenges, notably defeating then-Representative Joe Kennedy III six years ago, who argued that Markey was no longer fit for the role after decades in office. Young progressives, however, supported Markey for his record on the Green New Deal. This primary occurred against the backdrop of Biden’s struggles in 2024, raising questions about the Democratic Party's leadership.</p><p>Some Massachusetts Democrats speculated that Markey could be vulnerable, particularly if a popular progressive like Representative Ayanna Pressley, who is 52, chose to run against him. Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh noted that Pressley’s reception at a party convention convinced her that “if Ayanna runs, she wins.” However, Pressley opted to seek reelection to the House, leaving Moulton to challenge Markey.</p><p>Moulton has previously shown ambition, attempting to oust Pelosi as party leader in 2018 and briefly running for president the following year. However, he is viewed as less progressive than Pressley and has faced criticism from the left, particularly after his comments regarding transgender athletes. Markey capitalized on this by stating that Moulton had “thrown trans kids under the bus.”</p><p>The Massachusetts primary was notable for not featuring U.S. policy toward Israel as a contentious issue, with both candidates criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and opposing new military aid to Israel. Moulton had previously announced plans to return donations from AIPAC.</p><p>Polling data indicated a closer race until earlier this summer, when Markey began to widen his lead. A Markey adviser suggested that voters had not fully engaged with the campaign yet, and media attention was focused on other Democratic primaries. Markey’s age did not significantly impact the race, possibly due to his favorable public perception compared to Biden. Younger voters reportedly support older progressive leaders like Markey, Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren.</p><p>Moulton attempted to associate Markey with a Democratic establishment that he claimed had failed to deliver progressive victories, frequently mentioning Senator Chuck Schumer. He even accused Markey of having ties to Jeffrey Epstein, an allegation that may have backfired and contributed to Moulton’s defeat. Markey denied any connection to Epstein.</p><p>Ultimately, Massachusetts Democrats favored Markey’s progressive stance over Moulton’s relative youth. The stakes in this primary were perceived as lower than in other races, with Massachusetts unlikely to shift Republican in the upcoming election. Democratic voters expressed a desire for a reliable advocate to confront Trump and push for progressive policies in the future, regardless of Markey’s age.</p>