Sen. Ed Markey will win the Democratic nomination for US Senate in Massachusetts, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, fending off a primary challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton as he seeks a third full term.
In a year that has seen the ouster of several veteran Democrats at the hands of younger candidates running to their left, 80-year-old Markey cast himself as the more, progressive anti-establishment option in his showdown with Moulton, a six-term congressman who has bucked party leadership at times.
“Tonight is a testament to the power of the progressive movement,” Markey told supporters at the historic Omni Parker House in Boston Tuesday night. “It is a progressive movement fueled by young people, demanding more from their leaders, and it’s your voices that are the ones we need to hear right now.”
“Generational change isn’t about compromising to do the small things better. It’s about fighting to do the big things best,” he added.
It was one of several key nominating contests in deep-blue Massachusetts that tested voters’ appetite for change at a time when the party base is widely dissatisfied with congressional Democrats’ efforts to oppose President Donald Trump. By and large, however, they opted to stick with the status quo.
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In the Boston-based 8th District, the race mapped more neatly along the ideological and generational fault lines animating this primary season, with CNN projecting that moderate Rep. Stephen Lynch, who entered Congress in 2001, will defeat a well-funded, and three decades younger, challenger running to his left.
Meanwhile, in the crowded Democratic race to succeed Moulton in the 6th District, CNN projects that Biden White House alum Dan Koh will win the primary, overcoming anti-establishment sentiment.
Here are the key takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries:
While Moulton, 47, argued that the time had come for Markey, who first joined Congress in 1976, to make way for new leadership, he was unable to convince voters.
The two clashed sharply on the subject at debates, with Moulton seizing on Markey’s recent stumble while fielding a question about AI regulations. “This is why we need a new generation of leaders to regulate these technologies,” the congressman said.
But Markey pushed back on that criticism, telling CNN over the weekend, “I’ve always been the youngest guy in the world when it comes to ideas,” as he embraces resistance to the Trump administration. And he appealed to progressives in the liberal Massachusetts electorate, drawing contrasts with Moulton while pointing to his support for the Green New Deal, “Medicare for All” and transgender rights.
Markey told supporters Tuesday evening that he had spoken with Moulton and congratulated him on a “hard fought campaign.”
Markey now advances to the general election as the favorite to retain his seat in the reliably blue state against Republican John Deaton. If reelected, the senator says he will not seek a fourth term.
Lynch, 71, defeated 39-year-old Patrick Roath, an attorney and voting rights activist who campaigned on a message of generational change and staked out more progressive policy positions.
In his campaign, Roath called for reducing the cost of childcare and healthcare, congressional term limits, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He clashed with Lynch over the incumbent’s voting record on immigration and healthcare.
Roath outraised the incumbent, bringing in close to $1.3 million for his campaign as of mid-August, according to Federal Election Commission filings, while Lynch brought in about $900,000.
But Lynch overcame the fundraising disadvantage and will be heavily favored to retain his seat, which represents parts of Boston and its suburbs, in November.
Koh, a former deputy Cabinet secretary and special assistant to President Joe Biden, was bolstered by endorsements from his old boss and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
He also leaned on his local ties, highlighting his service as chief of staff to former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who later became Biden’s labor secretary, and as a member of the city of Andover’s select board.
Koh focused his campaign on lowering the cost of living, protecting democracy and supporting universal healthcare.
While some rivals sought to criticize his establishment ties, Koh consolidated local and national support to secure the nomination for the northeast Massachusetts seat, which is open following Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton’s decision to run for Senate.
Koh is favored to win the general election for the historically blue seat against Republican Micah Jones, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
This story has been updated with additional race projections.
