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Ed Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary over Seth Moulton

politicsSep 2, 202620826

Sen. Ed Markey, 80, defeated Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, to secure the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts’ Senate primary on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. Markey cast Moulton’s bid for “generational change” as out of step with the state’s voters and repeatedly criticized Moulton for past comments on transgender athletes; Markey said Massachusetts needs a senator who “stands up and fights back.” Moulton conceded and said he will now support Markey, adding that his challenge had started necessary conversations. In heavily Democratic Massachusetts the primary is the key contest, and Markey will face Republican John Deaton in November; Deaton was unopposed in his GOP primary and lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren by about 20 points in 2024. Markey will be 86 when his new term ends in 2032.

Erin Reed
@erininthemorning.com

Last night, Seth Moulton became the latest anti-trans Democrat to fall. There is good evidence that his anti-trans positions directly impacted the election - 67% of voters said those positions made them less likely to vote for him. Markey wins in a landslide. Subscribe to support our journalism.

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