Incumbent Senator Ed Markey has secured the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts, defeating challenger Representative Seth Moulton in Tuesday's primary. Markey, 80, is set to face Republican John Deaton in the general election.
The primary race was largely defined by a debate over age and generational leadership, with Moulton, 47, arguing that a change was needed in the Senate. Moulton, a six-term congressman, directly addressed Markey's age, telling The Boston Globe last fall that "every political consultant will tell me not to say this, but the honest truth is, yes." Moulton also pointed to Markey's unfamiliarity with artificial intelligence platforms during a recent debate as evidence of a need for new leadership.
When asked about AI platforms like Claude or ChatGPT, Markey responded that he uses "whatever is inside of my iPhone or my iPad — whatever comes up, and I don’t know what companies my iPad may be using." Moulton countered that not understanding AI, "the most important technology of our lifetime," should be disqualifying for a U.S. Senator.
Despite these concerns, Markey garnered significant support from both progressive and establishment wings of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee provided a $62,000 boost to Markey's campaign shortly before the election. He also received endorsements from prominent figures including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, "Squad" members Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Markey's early backing of policies such as the Green New Deal and Medicare for All also resonated with younger Democrats.
Markey, in turn, criticized Moulton for past comments regarding transgender athletes participating in women's sports. Markey accused Moulton of "throwing 'trans kids under the bus'" for stating in 2024 that he did not want his daughters "getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete." Moulton, during a recent debate, indicated that transgender athletes should be allowed to participate in girls' sports, while also suggesting a need for discussion on "issues of safety and fairness."
If re-elected, Senator Markey would be 86 years old at the conclusion of his next term. Moulton, a veteran of the Iraq War, had campaigned on bringing a new generation of leadership to the Senate. Markey's victory ensures his continued presence in the Senate, where he has served since 2013 after a long tenure in the House of Representatives. He is known as a liberal stalwart and has been a key figure in advocating for climate and economic policies.