Sen. Ed Markey has defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in Massachusetts’ Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, securing the party’s nomination as the 80-year-old incumbent seeks a third full term.
The race became a closely watched test of two competing arguments inside the Democratic Party: generational change versus progressive politics. Moulton, 47, argued that Democrats needed a new generation of leadership, while Markey campaigned on his long progressive record and maintained strong support among liberal voters.
One of the sharper differences between the two candidates involved transgender athletes in sports. Markey strongly defended transgender rights during the campaign and criticized Moulton over comments he had previously made about transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports. Moulton had said he did not want his daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.” He later apologized for the way he expressed those remarks, while maintaining concerns about fairness in women’s sports.
Markey also benefited from backing by some of the Democratic Party’s most prominent progressive figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Moulton, meanwhile, received support from figures including New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, VoteVets and the editorial board of The Boston Globe.
Markey’s victory is particularly notable because several Democratic races around the country this election cycle have featured younger challengers arguing that longtime officeholders should step aside. Massachusetts voters instead chose to keep the veteran senator, giving the progressive wing of the party a significant victory.
Markey has served in Congress for nearly five decades and has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 2013. He is known nationally for progressive priorities including climate policy, the Green New Deal and expanded health care.
He will now face Republican John Deaton in the November general election. Massachusetts strongly favors Democrats in statewide federal elections, making Markey the favorite heading into November.
Sources: Reuters, AP, NBC News, Fox News
By NJ RADAR Team