Senator Ed Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary

Ed Markey has defeated Seth Moulton in Massachusetts’ Democratic Senate primary, turning back a challenge that argued the 80-year-old incumbent was too old to remain effective.

Massachusetts strongly favors Democrats, leaving Markey in a strong position for the November general election. He will face Republican nominee John Deaton while seeking a third full term.

The result offered a reversal of a pattern seen in Democratic primaries elsewhere this year, where voters removed several long-serving incumbents in favor of younger progressive challengers. Markey, a longtime advocate of progressive causes, had backing from Senator Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. He supports a universal single-payer health system and broad clean-energy policies known as the Green New Deal.

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I think everyone watching this debate can see that I’m more energized than I’ve ever been before in my life. I am crisscrossing the state. I’m fighting for families.

Moulton, 47, has not endorsed single-payer proposals and adopted more moderate positions on some issues. Shortly before the primary, he apologized for remarks opposing transgender women and girls competing in sports. During an August debate, he also criticized Markey’s limited use of artificial-intelligence tools as evidence that Democrats need a new generation of leaders to regulate the technology.

Markey defended his energy and campaign schedule, saying, “I think everyone watching this debate can see that I’m more energized than I’ve ever been before in my life. I am crisscrossing the state. I’m fighting for families.” Polls before the primary showed him with a sizable lead. In 2020, he also defeated a primary challenge from Representative Joe Kennedy III.

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Senator, if you don’t even know what you’re using on your phone or your iPad, this is why we need a new generation of leaders to regulate these technologies to make sure that they are safe.