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.

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

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. With about 25 percent of the vote counted as of 10 p.m., Markey maintained about a two-to-one lead at 65 percent to 35 percent.

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.

"Tonight is a testament to the Progressive movement of our nation," Markey said in his victory speech. "It is a Progressive moment fueled by young people demanding more from their leaders. And it's your voices that are the ones we need to hear right now. Your leadership will show us the way.

"Young people are leading us to a better future."

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"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 said he spoke with Moulton shortly before his 10 p.m. victory speech about bringing the party together for November.

"I told him that I looked forward to talking about how to build the better future for everyone that we are both committed to," Markey said.

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

"My vision for the U.S. Senate has always been inspired by real solutions for the biggest problems facing Massachusetts," said Deaton, who was unopposed in the primary, in a statement on Tuesday. "Voters are tired of the same election-year sloganeering they've heard from Senator Markey over his five decades in office.

"The next senator needs a real plan to break up corporate healthcare monopolies, serve as a check on presidential power, and use every tool available to lower our oppressive cost of living."