Ed Markey has won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Massachusetts, defeating younger challenger Seth Moulton in a contest that tested the party’s appetite for generational change.
The Associated Press called the race after Tuesday’s primary. The result allows Mr Markey, 80, to seek a third full term in November and represents a victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Mr Moulton, 47, had argued that Massachusetts Democrats should look to a new generation of leaders. The congressman, who represents the state’s 6th District, made Mr Markey’s age and five decades in national politics central to his campaign.
But the incumbent countered that his record, rather than his age, should determine whether he remained in office. He highlighted his support for policies including Medicare for All, opposition to President Donald Trump’s defence budget and proposals to raise taxes on wealthy Americans.
“This is the most energised I’ve ever been, fighting Donald Trump every single day, fighting his agenda to undermine families all across our country,” Mr Markey said during a July debate. “And I lead that fight.”
Ed Markey retains progressive backing
Mr Markey secured the support of prominent figures on the party’s left, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
His campaign also sought to portray Mr Moulton as out of step with Democratic voters over remarks he made in 2024 about his daughters competing against transgender girls in sport. During an August debate, Mr Markey accused his rival of failing to stand up for transgender rights.
Mr Moulton apologised for causing hurt and said he supported LGBTQ rights. In a later debate, he said: “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. You’re valued, and I will always have your back.”
The primary was Mr Markey’s second successful defence against a much younger Democratic challenger. In 2020, he defeated Representative Joe Kennedy III after presenting himself as a progressive alternative to the party establishment.
Mr Markey first entered Congress in 1976, representing Massachusetts in the House of Representatives before winning a Senate seat in 2013. Mr Moulton, a former Marine who served four tours in Iraq, was first elected to the House in 2014.
Mr Markey will now face Republican attorney John Deaton in November. Massachusetts is strongly Democratic, making the primary victory the decisive hurdle in his bid to remain in the Senate.
