Markey Beats Moulton in Massachusetts Senate Primary

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in Massachusetts' Senate primary, NBC News projects, in a win for the party's progressive wing.

Markey was leading by nearly 50 percentage points with 2% of the expected vote reporting.

The victory comes as several longtime Democratic lawmakers have lost to younger challengers in primaries this year. But the 80-year-old senator overcame his challenger by touting his liberal record as an author of the Green New Deal and a vocal supporter of "Medicare for All."

"It's all about not just sending a Democrat to the Senate — it's sending a progressive Democrat to the Senate from Massachusetts so there can be someone that reflects your values every single day," Markey said at a rally the night before the primary, calling the race "a progressive final round."

Moulton and his allies outspent Markey's side on ads, $7.1 million to $3.9 million, according to AdImpact, making Markey's win another success for a progressive facing well-funded attacks.

Markey touted endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both of whom appeared in an ad for him, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Markey was first elected to the Senate in 2013 after nearly 40 years in the House.

Moulton, 47, campaigned on generational change, a message that has cost several House Democrats their seats in primaries this year. "Sen. Markey and I want the same things, but wanting isn't winning, and the old way isn't working," Moulton said in one ad.

Markey's allies attacked Moulton over past criticism of liberal policies, including his opposition to Medicare for All and taxing billionaires during his 2019 presidential run. Markey also criticized Moulton on transgender issues, saying he "threw trans kids under the bus" after the 2024 election. Moulton had told The New York Times that he didn't want his daughters "getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete," and later apologized to "anyone hurt by those comments."

Markey vowed to keep fighting President Donald Trump, saying in one ad: "It's a moment in history where Trump is challenging everything that started right here 250 years ago. We have a message from Massachusetts: We are going to fight."