80-year-old Dem beats back generational challenge after going all-in on trans athletes
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey has fended off a primary challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton to secure the Democratic nomination for a third full Senate term, with the Associated Press calling the race less than an hour after polls closed on Tuesday. The 80-year-old Markey won by embracing his progressive credentials, notably by continuing to voice support for transgender athletes in sports, a stance most Democrats have avoided this election cycle. The result is a significant test of whether the party's progressive wing can still prevail over calls for generational change, particularly following the turmoil around Joe Biden's age during his 2024 re-election bid.
Moulton, who campaigned on renewing the party's leadership and cited concerns about "male or formerly male" athletes competing against girls, argued the trans sports issue had cost Democrats support in the 2024 elections. Markey countered by insisting his position reflected Massachusetts values, and secured backing from prominent progressives including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Given the state's strongly Democratic lean, having not elected a Republican senator since 2013, Markey's primary win is expected to translate into victory in November. It is also his second successful defence against a younger rival, having previously defeated Joe Kennedy III in 2020, even as other veteran Democrats, such as Connecticut's John Larson, have lost to younger challengers this cycle.
- Ed Markey, 80, wins Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary over Seth Moulton
- Markey campaigned on support for transgender athletes in sports
- Result bucks wider Democratic trend toward generational change
New here? Start with this
Massachusetts is a strongly Democratic state, so the party’s primary often plays a major role in deciding who will hold its Senate seat. The winner of the primary becomes the Democratic candidate for the November election, where the party has usually had the advantage.
Ed Markey is a longtime senator and a member of the party’s progressive wing. Seth Moulton is a younger Democratic representative who argued that the party needed new leadership; the two also differed over transgender athletes’ participation in sports.
The contest reflects wider debates among Democrats about age, leadership and how to approach contentious social issues. It follows questions about the age of political leaders during Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign and comes as some veteran Democrats face younger challengers.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Markey’s victory can be seen as evidence that voters value an experienced senator who stands by progressive commitments, including support for transgender athletes, rather than changing positions to follow election-year caution. His supporters may argue that inclusion and equal participation are important principles, and that Moulton’s call for generational renewal did not outweigh Markey’s record or the views of Massachusetts voters.
The case against
Moulton’s challenge reflected a reasonable concern that long-serving leaders can leave a party short of renewal and that its positions should be tested against voters’ electoral concerns. He argued that support for transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports had cost Democrats support; advocates of his position may see clearer limits and younger leadership as necessary to maintain public confidence and broaden the party’s appeal.