Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) coasted to victory in Tuesday's Democratic primary, turning back a challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton and bucking the cycle's pattern of younger insurgents toppling veteran incumbents.
With about 71 percent of the vote counted by 11:15 p.m. EDT, the 80-year-old incumbent led Moulton by nearly 30 points. The race became a high-profile test of the party's generational divide, but with an unusual twist: Markey, a progressive stalwart, faced a more moderate foe in Moulton, a 47-year-old six-term congressman.
Markey's victory follows his 2020 primary win over former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, which marked the first time a Kennedy lost a statewide race in Massachusetts. That earlier triumph, combined with Tuesday's result, underscores the staying power of the state's progressive wing, even as voters elsewhere have embraced younger challengers.
Moulton had pitched himself as a new voice for a changing party, pointing to his relative youth and policy focus on technology and national security. He seized on a moment in a debate when Markey appeared to stumble on a question about artificial intelligence, arguing it was evidence that fresh perspectives were needed. But Bay State voters were not persuaded, preferring Markey's record on issues like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.
Markey's campaign was bolstered by endorsements from progressive heavyweights, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Former Obama strategist David Axelrod noted that Markey won "despite his age, because, in his Golden Years, he's grabbed on to the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, trans rights and other marquee priorities of the Left."
Moulton conceded in a statement, saying, "Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn't easy, but it is necessary. I will continue to push the Democratic Party—and our country—to look towards the future." He pledged to support Markey in the general election.
Tuesday's results also brought relief to other long-serving House Democrats. Rep. Stephen Lynch, 71, who has represented the Boston area for 13 terms, defeated 39-year-old attorney Patrick Roath in the 8th District. Roath, backed by David Hogg's Leaders We Deserve organization, had argued that even longtime Lynch supporters were ready for change, but Lynch led by about 15 points when the race was called.
In western Massachusetts, Rep. Richard Neal, 77, who has served 19 terms, beat back 39-year-old teacher Jeromie Whalen. Whalen had focused his campaign on corporate influence in politics and highlighted the age gap, but Neal's incumbency proved sufficient.
These outcomes signal that while the party's progressive wing remains energized, voters are not uniformly rejecting veteran lawmakers, especially when their records align with left-wing priorities. The results also set the stage for the general election, with Moulton's successor in the 6th District being decided in a separate primary. For a deeper look at that race, see our coverage of Koh's victory in the 6th District.
Meanwhile, the gubernatorial race is shaping up as a contest between Democrat Maura Healey and Republican Geoff Diehl, as Healey prepares to face the GOP nominee. The primaries also drew strong turnout, reflecting the high stakes of these contests.
For more on the broader implications of these primaries, see our analysis of the generational push testing incumbents. And for the latest on the Senate race, check our election night report.
