Senator Ed Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary on September 1

Senator Ed Markey, 80, won the Massachusetts Democratic primary on September 1, 2026, defeating Representative Seth Moulton, 47, according to reporting from the Guardian, PBS NewsHour, and ABC News. Moulton had centered his campaign on generational change and Markey's age, arguing that younger leadership was necessary to regulate technology and meet the challenges facing the state.

Markey was first elected to the House in 1976 and has been a fixture in Massachusetts politics since the 1970s, per the Guardian. He was elected to the Senate in 2013 after serving Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District from 1976 to 2013, according to PBS NewsHour. Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran who served four tours in Iraq after the September 11 attacks, was first elected to Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District in 2014, per PBS NewsHour and ABC News. Moulton has served as a member of the moderate New Democrat Coalition, ABC News reports.

Markey is a champion of single-payer healthcare and sweeping clean energy policies known as the Green New Deal, according to the Guardian. He received backing from Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Guardian reports. Moulton has not endorsed single-payer healthcare proposals, per the Guardian. While Markey and Moulton agreed on several issues, such as abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Moulton placed the generational divide at the center of the race, ABC News reports.

During an August debate, Moulton said: "We need the generation that grew up with the internet and is going to have to live for decades with the consequences of AI to chart the way forward," according to ABC News. In March, Markey introduced the Youth AI Privacy Act, ABC News reports.

At the same debate, Moulton pressed Markey on technological knowledge. When asked what AI tools he uses, Markey said: "Whatever is inside of my iPhone and my iPad—whatever comes up," per the Guardian. Moulton responded: "How are we going to effectively regulate and keep big tech accountable if you can't even tell the difference between big tech programs?" according to ABC News. Markey later said during the debate: "It doesn't make any difference whether it's called 'Siri' or it's called 'Claude'," per ABC News.

During the campaign, Markey highlighted a controversy from Moulton's 2024 remarks in which Moulton said he did not want his daughters playing sports against transgender girls, according to PBS NewsHour. Shortly before the primary, Moulton apologized, saying it was not his intention to hurt the transgender community and stressing his support for other transgender rights bills, per PBS NewsHour. During an August debate, Moulton 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," according to PBS NewsHour.

During an August debate, 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," per the Guardian. In his victory speech, Markey said: "Massachusetts needs a senator who stands up and fights back, a senator who never forgets who they are fighting for. That has been the mission of my life, and it always will be," according to PBS NewsHour.

In his concession speech, Moulton said: "Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn't easy. But it is necessary," per PBS NewsHour. He added: "We didn't achieve our goal tonight, but I am confident others will be inspired to buck the system when they're told to wait their turn," according to PBS NewsHour. Moulton said he would support Markey in the general election, per PBS NewsHour.

A University of New Hampshire poll released the week before the primary found that 63% of likely Democratic supporters backed Markey, with 28% supporting Moulton, according to ABC News. In polls days before the primary, Markey showed a sizable lead, per the Guardian.

In 2020, Markey fended off a challenge from congressman Joe Kennedy III, according to the Guardian and PBS NewsHour. Markey aligned himself with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party during that primary race, per PBS NewsHour.

Markey was also endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, according to ABC News. Massachusetts is heavily Democratic, making Markey favored to win a third full term in the November general election, per the Guardian. Markey will face Republican John Deaton in November, according to the Guardian and PBS NewsHour. Deaton lost to Senator Elizabeth Warren by about 20 points in 2024, per PBS NewsHour. Deaton was unopposed in his Republican primary on September 1, according to PBS NewsHour.

Other Massachusetts incumbents won their primaries on September 1. In the 8th Congressional District, longtime incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch defeated Patrick Roath, per PBS NewsHour. In the 1st Congressional District of western Massachusetts, Rep. Richard Neal defeated public school teacher Jeromie Whalen, according to PBS NewsHour.