Sen. Ed Markey Wins Democratic Primary in Massachusetts

Sen. Ed Markey secured the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts' Senate primary on September 1, 2026, defeating Rep. Seth Moulton. Markey, 80, is seeking a third term and faced Moulton, 47, who campaigned on a message of generational change. Moulton argued for a shift away from the 'status quo' but was unable to overcome Markey's established presence in the state. Markey criticized Moulton's moderate positions, particularly on issues such as transgender rights, where Moulton had previously stated he would not want his daughters to compete against transgender athletes. In his victory speech, Markey emphasized the importance of fighting for the people of Massachusetts. He will face Republican John Deaton in the general election, who was unopposed in his primary. Markey has been involved in Massachusetts politics since the 1970s and previously won a challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy III in 2020. Moulton, in his concession speech, expressed support for Markey and acknowledged the necessity of challenging the establishment. Similar generational dynamics were observed in other congressional races, where older incumbents also prevailed. Markey was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and served in the House from 1976 to 2013. Moulton has served in Congress since 2014 and previously ran for president in 2020.