Ed Markey Leads in Massachusetts Primary Despite Age Attacks
Sen. Ed Markey, 80, holds a large lead over challenger Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Democratic primary, driven by strong support from progressive voters.
The Plan for Change
The plan was simple. Young challenger Seth Moulton would use his age to knock out the old guard. That was the plan. But the voters in Massachusetts have other ideas.
Sen. Ed Markey is 80 years old. He has served in Congress longer than Moulton has been alive. Yet Markey sits comfortably ahead in the polls. Per the Washington Examiner, Markey leads his opponent by as much as 35 points. This lead comes from a wave of liberal voters who care more about policy than birth dates.
Moulton, 47, tried to make age the main story. He claimed Markey was holding on “while the world passes him by.” He argued for a new generation of leaders. But the primary voters did not buy it. They see Markey as a true progressive. They see Moulton as a centrist who might not fight hard enough for their cause.
The Tech Debate
Age became a flashpoint during the final debate. Markey was asked if he uses artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. He stated that he relies on whatever is inside of my iPhone or my iPad. He added that he doesn’t know “what companies my iPad may be using.”
Moulton seized on this moment. With all due respect, senator, if you don’t even know what you’re using on your phone or your iPad, he said, like, this is why we need a new generation of leaders to regulate these technologies.
Young voters are split on this. Arsen Bagdassarian, an 18-year-old Moulton supporter, called the answer “clueless.” He believes the country needs leaders who understand the technology they must regulate. But others disagree. Matt Kelly, who serves as president of the UMass Lowell College Democrats, conceded that it was not a good answer. Still, he said he cares more about how the senator governs the tech than if he knows how to use it.
Progressive Credentials Win
The real story here is about ideology. According to the Washington Examiner, polls show primary voters care more about ideas than how long a candidate has served. Markey has spent years building a reputation as a fierce progressive.