Sen. Ed Markey, 80, defeats Rep. Seth Moulton in Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary Tuesday
BOSTON — The Ed Markey Massachusetts Senate primary result was called by the Associated Press shortly after polls closed. Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed. Markey, 80, is seeking a third full Senate term. Moulton, 47, had argued it was time for generational change.
Moulton conceded the Ed Markey Massachusetts Senate primary and said he would support Markey. The senator will face Republican John Deaton in the Nov. 3 general election. Unofficial vote shares were still coming in Tuesday night. Certified final percentages were not yet posted.
NBC News said Markey was winning about two-thirds of the vote with 69% of the expected vote reporting. Those figures were unofficial. This report does not treat them as a certified final result.
Ed Markey Massachusetts Senate primary: how he framed the race
Markey has been in Massachusetts politics since the 1970s. He represented the 7th Congressional District from 1976 to 2013 and was elected to the Senate in 2013. He beat a younger House member, then-Rep. Joe Kennedy III, in a 2020 primary.
On Tuesday he cast the Ed Markey Massachusetts Senate primary win as a progressive victory, not a defense of age. “Massachusetts needs a senator who stands up and fights back, a senator who never forgets who they are fighting for,” Markey said in his victory speech, according to the AP. “That has been the mission of my life, and it always will be.”
He also answered the generational argument directly. “Generational change isn’t about compromising, to do the small things better,” he said. “It’s about fighting to do the big things best.”
CNN quoted Markey telling supporters at Boston’s Omni Parker House: “Tonight is a testament to the power of the progressive movement.” He said that movement is “fueled by young people, demanding more from their leaders.”
Moulton concedes and pledges to back Markey
Moulton was first elected in Massachusetts’ 6th District in 2014. He remains the sitting representative for that seat. He enlisted in the Marines after Sept. 11, 2001, and served four tours in Iraq, the AP reported. He launched a short 2020 presidential campaign.
In a concession speech, Moulton said he would now support Markey. “Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn’t easy. But it is necessary,” he told supporters, according to the AP. “We started conversations that needed to happen.”
“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,” he added.
NBC News reported that Moulton called Markey to congratulate him. Moulton told supporters that Markey “has my full support as our Democratic nominee, and we must stand united this November to protect our democracy and defeat Donald Trump.”
Money, endorsements, and the issues that defined the primary
Moulton and his allies spent more on ads. AdImpact figures reported by NBC News put Moulton’s side at $7.1 million in ads, compared with $3.9 million for Markey and his allies.
Markey touted endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Both appeared in an ad for him, NBC News said. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York also backed him. Commonwealth Beacon reported that six of the state’s eight House members and Warren endorsed Markey. Reps. Stephen Lynch and Jake Auchincloss stayed neutral, the Beacon said, citing the Boston Globe.
The clash over transgender athletes
The AP said transgender rights may have defined the race more than any other issue. Markey repeatedly criticized Moulton for previously saying he would not want his daughters to play against transgender athletes. Moulton later apologized. He said it was not his intention to hurt the transgender community and stressed support for other transgender rights bills.
“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,” Moulton said during an August debate, according to the AP. “You’re valued, and I will always have your back.”
US Local Now reports campaign claims with attribution under its editorial policy. The quotes above are from the Associated Press and NBC News.
What Tuesday sets up for November
In Massachusetts, the Democratic primary is often the steepest hurdle. Markey now faces Deaton on Nov. 3. Deaton lost to Warren by about 20 points in 2024 and was unopposed in his Republican primary Tuesday, the AP said.
CNN reported that if Markey is reelected, he says he will not seek a fourth term. Commonwealth Beacon noted that Massachusetts has not sent a Republican to the Senate since Scott Brown’s 2010 special-election win.
Other older House incumbents also won Tuesday. The AP said Rep. Stephen Lynch defeated Patrick Roath in the 8th District. Rep. Richard Neal defeated Jeromie Whalen in the 1st District. CNN projected that Dan Koh won the Democratic primary to succeed Moulton in the 6th District.
Unofficial shares, not a certified count
Unofficial tallies shifted as more votes were counted. NBC News described Markey’s share as about two-thirds with most of the expected vote in. Commonwealth Beacon put unofficial results at roughly 70 percent for Markey and 30 percent for Moulton. Those are unofficial shares, not a certified final count.
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