On Saturday, U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, a centrist Democrat from Massachusetts, secured the necessary delegate backing to be listed on the state’s primary ballot, as he aims to unseat current Senator Ed Markey in the upcoming Senate election.
Despite Moulton successfully overcoming this significant barrier to continue his Senate campaign, it was Markey who clinched the party’s endorsement by securing over half of the delegate votes.
“The choice is yours. You must decide what you envision for the future and what you will demand,” Markey addressed an audience of more than 4,000 delegates on Saturday.
The Massachusetts primary is scheduled for September 1.
Markey garnered nearly 73% of the delegates’ votes, while Moulton received close to 27%. According to Massachusetts Democratic Party regulations, candidates running for statewide office need to achieve at least 15% of delegate support to qualify for the primary ballot.
In Massachusetts, a predominantly Democratic state, this Senate primary race has captured national attention. Moulton, 47, has focused his campaign on advocating for change and calling for a new generation of leadership.
If reelected, Markey would be 80 before his third six-year term would begin. While Markey has touted his stamina and embrace of progressive policies, questions about age have continued to swirl around Democratic candidates as they fight to take back control of Congress.
In his nomination speech, Moulton argued that the Democratic Party needed more than “incremental change” and needed to start anew.
“It’s time for the generation that grew up with the internet, and will have to live for decades with AI, to lead our way through it,” Moulton said.
Moulton only addressed his opponent briefly during his nomination speech, giving a passing nod on not waiting another six years for generational change and later calling on Markey to participate in multiple debates before the September primary. Currently, the two candidates have agreed to participate in one debate later this summer.
Markey, instead, took a more critical approach by attacking Moulton’s previous comments about transgender kids and accepting corporate PAC money.
“Massachusetts deserves better than a senator who scapegoats trans kids,” Markey said to loud cheers.
In 2024, Moulton caught flak from some members of his party for saying he didn’t want his daughters playing in sports against transgender girls. Critics said Moulton echoed President Trump’s talking points against allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.
Moulton has since said his intent with that statement “was to point out that, as a party, we need to be willing to have difficult conversations.”
Moulton, who enlisted in the Marines after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and served four tours of duty in Iraq, was first elected to the House in 2014. He briefly launched a 2020 presidential campaign, but he dropped that bid after a few months.
Markey served as a Massachusetts congressman for nearly 40 years before winning the Senate seat in 2013. He fended off a challenge in 2020 from Rep. Joe Kennedy III in the Senate primary by turning to his progressive allies to overcome a challenge from a younger rival from America’s most famous political family.
