Get you up to speed: Ed Markey defeats Seth Moulton in Massachusetts’ Democratic primary for Senate
Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey has won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, defeating U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton. Markey, who is seeking a third full term, will face Republican John Deaton in the general election.
Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey has stated that this will be his last term if he wins the general election against Republican John Deaton. In Massachusetts, seven Democrats are competing to replace Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who is stepping down after 16 years amid ongoing investigations related to key trials.
In response to Ed Markey’s victory in the Democratic Senate primary, Seth Moulton stated, “With costs skyrocketing, we need new solutions to old challenges and then we need a new generation of leadership to take on new challenges like AI.” Looking ahead, Markey will face Republican John Deaton in the general election, where he aims to advance his progressive agenda including the Green New Deal and Medicare for all.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how the recent primary results may impact the future political landscape in Massachusetts.
Ed Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary for Senate, defeating Seth Moulton
Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey has won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, defeating U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, the Associated Press projects.
Markey is seeking a third full term representing Massachusetts in the Senate. Markey will face Republican John Deaton in the general election.
Markey was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and has been known as a champion of progressive causes like the Green New Deal. He talked about his agenda while voting in Malden Tuesday morning.
“I am going to provide a progressive vision in action on the floor of the United States Senate,” Markey said. “That is Medicare for all, it’s a Green New Deal, it is taxing billionaires, it’s making sure we cut off this flow of defense money that Donald Trump is using to run an illegal unconstitutional war in Iran. It’s just in general, a progressive message for all of the voters.”
Moulton is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was elected to represent Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District in 2014. He’s been a disruptor in his party, leading an unsuccessful attempt to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming House speaker in 2018. He also ran for president in 2020.
“With costs skyrocketing, we need new solutions to old challenges and then we need a new generation of leadership to take on new challenges like AI, that unfortunately, the senator doesn’t even understand,” Moulton said earlier on Tuesday. “And we also need to send someone to Washington who is going to fight to win the majority across the country.”
There are few policy differences between the two, but Moulton argued that it was time for a change from Markey, who is 80 years old and has been in Congress since 1976. Markey has said he’s as energized as ever, but pledges this would be his last term.
Massachusetts congressional primaries
With Moulton running for Senate, there are six Democrats vying for the nomination to his 6th Congressional District seat, which covers much of the North Shore and parts of the Merrimack Valley. They are Bethany Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Jamie Belsito, Dan Koh, Mariah Lancaster and Tram Nguyen.
In the 8th Congressional District, Rep. Stephen Lynch is being challenged by attorney Patrick Roath, whose campaign has spent more than $1 million trying to unseat the longtime incumbent from South Boston.
Massachusetts Republican primary for governor
On the Republican side, the only notable primary was the race for governor. Businessman Mike Minogue, who won the party’s endorsement at the state Republican convention in April, defeated former MBTA chief Brian Shortsleeve.
Minogue will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Maura Healey.
Massachusetts district attorney races
Seven Democrats are looking to replace Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who is not seeking reelection after 16 years in office.
Key issues in the race include the Karen Read trials and the investigation into Sandra Birchmore’s death. WBZ-TV’s Kristina Rex sat down for interviews with all seven candidates.
In Suffolk County, Rachael Rollins is running against incumbent District Attorney Kevin Hayden to try and get her old job back. She resigned as U.S. attorney for Massachusetts in 2023 after an ethics investigation.