MA Primary 2026 U.S. Senate Race: Markey Bests Moulton In Battle Of The Ages

U.S. Senator Ed Markey successfully held off the often-contentious challenge of U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton in the race for the Democratic nomination for the Bay State's junior Senate seat in state primary results reported on Tuesday night.

• Markey, Moulton Deliver Parting Shots In Final MA Senate Primary Debate

The Associated Press called the race for Markey about a half hour after the close of polls at 8 p.m.

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At the time, with 2 percent of the vote reported, Markey had 75.9 percent of the vote to Moulton's 24.1 percent, according to AP unofficial results.

The 47-year-old Moulton made Markey's age — 80 — a focal point of the campaign as Markey runs for another six-year term after serving in Washington for a half-century.

Markey leaned heavily into his progressive record, while framing Moulton as more of a moderate who bucks some party ideals, as well as his long list of establishment endorsements, including U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

• Markey, Moulton Trade Punches In Contentious U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate

"We ran a race that stood on principle," Moulton said in his concession speech. "That wasn't just about politics as usual. That elevated the voices of Massachusetts citizens who have been left behind by the status quo in Washington.

"Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn't easy. But it is necessary. We started a conversation that needed to happen. And I will never stop pushing the Democratic Party and this country to look toward the future."

Markey will now face Republican John Deaton in the Nov. 3 general election.

Check back with your Patch throughout Election Night for updates, results and reactions.