Markey, 80, defeats Moulton in Massachusetts Democratic primary

Senator Ed Markey decisively won the Massachusetts Democratic primary on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, defeating Representative Seth Moulton in a race that tested the party's appetite for generational change against a well-established progressive record. The Associated Press called the race for Markey at 8:31 p.m. EDT, with the 80-year-old incumbent holding a commanding lead of approximately 74% to Moulton's 26% as of the latest vote count. The victory positions Markey as the overwhelming favorite in the heavily Democratic state's November general election, where he will face Republican nominee John Deaton. The primary result bucked a recent trend of younger, more centrist Democrats unseating older incumbents, instead affirming the strength of Markey's long-standing liberal platform. Moulton, a 47-year-old Marine veteran and six-term congressman, had centered his campaign on the argument that it was time for new leadership to address modern challenges. A central point of contention was Moulton's 2024 comments expressing reluctance to have his daughters compete against transgender athletes.