Massachusetts Democrats vote Tuesday in a Senate primary that defies the party’s usual playbook.
Generational clash defines the race
Sen. Ed Markey, 80, seeks a fourth term after building a progressive record with the Green New Deal, while Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, campaigns on generational turnover.
Markey’s endorsements include Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and a majority of state convention delegates, whereas Moulton has secured The Boston Globe and current and former House colleagues such as New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
Michael Fahey, founder of Fahey Communications, argues that voters can separate age from ideology in this contest.
“Massachusetts is testing whether generational change is an ideology or merely an attribute,” Fahey said. “In other primaries, youth comes with a new vision; here, voters can choose the younger Democrat or the more progressive Democrat.”
Moulton highlighted Markey’s age during a CBS “Face the Nation” interview on Aug. 23, noting that the senator struggled to explain smartphone apps during the final debate.
“He doesn’t know which apps use AI and tried to liken AI to an automobile,” Moulton said. “The world has moved on; it’s not about Markey personally, but whether one Senate seat should stay with one person while the Senate’s relevance slips away.”
Markey previously repelled a primary challenge from Joseph Kennedy III in 2020, winning 55 % to 45 % with younger progressive support and a Green New Deal platform.
Fahey warns that age alone may not be enough; voters need to see a material shift in party direction.
“If Markey wins decisively, I would not interpret that as Democrats rejecting younger leadership,” he said. “The lesson is that youth without a clear policy break does not drive a movement.”
Campaign finance shows Markey raised and spent over $8 million, compared with Moulton’s $6 million.
Polls close at 8 p.m. EST, and roughly 468,000 ballots have been cast, about 390,000 by Democrats.
The winner will face Republican John Deaton, who is unopposed in his primary and lost to Warren in 2024, 38 % to 58 %.
Both campaigns declined to comment before publication.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
