U.S. Sen. Ed Markey on Tuesday secured the Democratic nomination in the Massachusetts Senate primary, once again fending off an attempted generational shift as he seeks a third term. Markey, 80, defeated U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, who had tried to argue that it was time to end the “status quo” in his bid to unseat the octogenarian. However, Markey successfully highlighted Moulton’s more moderate positions to argue that it was Moulton – not the older incumbent – who was out of touch with the state’s voters. Perhaps no other issue defined the race more than transgender rights, and Markey repeatedly criticized Moulton for previously saying he would not want his daughters to play against transgender athletes. “Massachusetts needs a senator who will stand up and fight, a senator who will never forget who he is fighting for,” Markey said during his victory speech. “That has been my life’s mission and always will be.” In heavily Democratic Massachusetts, the primary is considered the most critical electoral hurdle, where Democratic winners are expected to prevail in the November general election. Markey will face Republican John Deaton, who lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren by about 20 points in 2024 and was unopposed in his primary on Tuesday. Markey has been a fixture in Massachusetts politics since the 1970s, prompting Moulton to make his “status quo” arguments on the campaign trail and question Markey’s accomplishments during his long time in office. “Generational change is not about compromise, about doing the little things better,” Markey said Tuesday. “It’s about fighting to do important things better.” In a concession speech, Moulton said he would now support Markey. Sign up for the Ground Game newsletter: your guide to the biggest stories in American politics, policy and elections. “Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership is not easy, but it is necessary,” Moulton told supporters. “We started conversations that needed to happen.” “We didn’t achieve our goal tonight, but I trust that others will be inspired to buck the system when they are told to wait their turn,” he added. The Senate race wasn’t the only generational challenge for Democrats on the ballot. A similar dynamic played out in several congressional elections, but ultimately, the older incumbents won on Tuesday. In the 8th Congressional District, longtime incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch defeated Patrick Roath. And in Western Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District, Rep. Richard Neal defeated public school teacher Jeromie Whalen to advance to the general election. Moulton’s comments about transgender children were a problem. During the campaign, Markey repeatedly noted that Moulton, in 2024, drew attention among some party members for saying he did not want his daughters to play sports against transgender girls. Critics said he was echoing President Donald Trump’s talking points against allowing transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports. Moulton later apologized for his comments, saying he did not mean to harm the transgender community and emphasizing his support for other transgender rights bills. “If you’re in the trans community or you’re a trans kid feeling the weight of the Trump administration and the Supreme Court, you matter,” Moulton said during a debate in August. “You are valued and I will always have your back.” Moulton, who enlisted in the Marine Corps after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and served four tours of duty in Iraq, was first elected to Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District in 2014. He launched a presidential campaign in 2020 but abandoned it after a few months. Markey was elected to the Senate in 2013. Before that, he represented Massachusetts’ 7th congressional district from 1976 to 2013. Markey notably fended off a 2020 challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a younger rival from one of the country’s most famous political families. Markey did so by aligning himself with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Antoine Hilaire, a 76-year-old Democrat who voted for Markey in Brockton on Tuesday, said being older can be a positive because it offers people experience and wisdom. “Whether the oldest is doing the best job, I don’t know,” he said. “He’s doing a good job. It’s not a big, big, big problem.” Lynch, 71, has held the 8th District seat in South Boston since 2001. She won Tuesday’s primary against Roath, a 39-year-old lawyer who argued it’s time to end the “wait your turn” policy. Lynch emphasized the value of experience within Congress. Lynch has championed other youth challenges in the past, but Roath’s campaign was hoping for a boost of enthusiasm after Democratic Rep. John Larson was defeated by former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin in August in neighboring Connecticut. Like Roath, Bronin called for the need for generational change while running against an establishment politician. In the 1st District Democratic primary in western Massachusetts, Neal, 77, bested Whalen, 39. Neal, known as the dean of the New England House delegation, was first elected in 1988. Whalen ran to the left of Neal, calling for Medicare for All and questioning whether Neal has done enough to oppose Trump’s agenda. Whalen was endorsed by Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. ___Associated Press reporter Leah Willingham in Brockton contributed. ___The story has been updated to correct Larson’s first name to John, not Jim.
