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Markey defeats Moulton
Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts on Tuesday, defeating U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, the Associated Press projected.
“Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey has for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, defeating U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, the Associated Press projects.”
NBC News projected Markey’s victory as he sought a third full term representing Massachusetts in the Senate, and the race was called shortly after polls closed.
Markey, first elected to the Senate in 2013, is seeking another term and will face Republican John Deaton in the general election, according to the Associated Press and NBC News.
CBS News described Moulton as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was elected to represent Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District in 2014 and who ran an unsuccessful attempt to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming House speaker in 2018.
The Guardian said Markey, the 80-year-old incumbent, beat back a challenge from Moulton, the 47-year-old rival, and that Markey was favored to win a third full term in November against John Deaton.
Age fight and quotes
Markey framed his agenda as a progressive vision in action, telling reporters, "I am going to provide a progressive vision in action on the floor of the United States Senate," and he tied it to Medicare for all and a Green New Deal.
Moulton attacked Markey’s effectiveness and argued, "With costs skyrocketing, we need new solutions to old challenges and then we need a new generation of leadership," while CBS News said he portrayed Markey as too old to be effective.
The Guardian reported that the question of when a lawmaker is too old to continue serving loomed large when the candidates met for a debate in August, and it quoted Markey saying, "I think everyone watching this debate can see that I’m more energized than I’ve ever been before in my life."
NPR said Markey turned 80 this July and described his campaign as fighting Donald Trump every day, quoting him: "This is the most energized I've ever been, fighting Donald Trump every single day, fighting his agenda to undermine families all across our country," and "And I lead that fight."
What Markey’s win means
Markey’s primary win sets up a November general election against Republican John Deaton, with CBS News saying Markey will face Deaton and NBC News projecting Markey’s victory after polls closed.
“With nearly 75% of the vote early on, Markey led Moulton by nearly a 3-to-1 margin”
USA Today reported that with nearly 75% of the vote early on, Markey led Moulton by nearly a 3-to-1 margin, and it said the race was called about 30 minutes after the polls closed.
The Boston Globe said Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren celebrated Markey’s projected win with a post that read, "Double woohoo!" and described Warren saying Markey was "the best partner in the Senate that money can’t buy."
NPR said the result marked another win for the progressive wing of the party this election cycle and described it as a defeat for those calling for generational change and a new direction in party leadership.
In addition to the Senate contest, CBS News listed other Massachusetts primaries, including six Democrats vying for the nomination to replace Moulton’s 6th Congressional District seat and a Republican governor primary won by Mike Minogue over Brian Shortsleeve.