US Senator Ed Markey has defeated Congressman Seth Moulton in the Democratic primary in Massachusetts, overcoming a campaign centred largely on questions about his age and ability to remain effective in office.
The 80-year-old incumbent secured victory over Moulton, 47, in Tuesday’s contest, according to the Associated Press. Markey’s win puts him in a strong position to secure another full term in November, when he will face Republican candidate John Deaton.
Massachusetts is considered a strong Democratic state, making Markey the favourite heading into the general election.
Moulton had made Markey’s age a central issue in his campaign, arguing that the party needed a younger generation of leaders. The debate over the age of elected officials has remained a significant issue among Democratic voters following President Joe Biden’s unsuccessful 2024 re-election campaign and Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat by Donald Trump.
Democratic voters in other states have also recently backed younger progressive candidates over some long-serving incumbents. However, the Massachusetts contest presented a different dynamic, with Markey himself maintaining a strong progressive record while Moulton adopted more moderate positions on several issues.
Markey has been a prominent supporter of proposals for universal single-payer healthcare and major clean-energy initiatives under the “Green New Deal”. His campaign received support from leading progressives, including independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Moulton, who has represented a northeastern Massachusetts congressional district since first winning election in 2014, has not backed single-payer healthcare proposals.
He also faced criticism during the campaign after comments about transgender athletes. Moulton later apologised for saying he did not want his daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete”. He made the remarks after Trump’s 2024 victory, following a campaign in which Trump had pledged to restrict transgender rights.
The age issue featured prominently when the two candidates faced off in a debate in August.
Defending his record and fitness for office, Markey said: “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, meanwhile, criticised Markey over what he described as his limited participation in town halls and candidate forums.
The congressman also seized on an exchange about artificial intelligence after Markey was asked which AI tools he used. The senator responded: “whatever is inside of my iPhone and my iPad – whatever comes up”.
Moulton replied: “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.”
Despite Moulton’s challenge, pre-election polls had consistently given Markey a substantial advantage.
The victory also adds to Markey’s record of surviving primary challenges. In 2020, he defeated Congressman Joe Kennedy III, a member of one of Massachusetts’ most prominent political families, in the Democratic Senate primary.
Markey will now turn his attention to the November election as he seeks a third full term in the US Senate.
