Ed Markey Leads in Massachusetts Primary Despite Age Attacks

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.

Noting that your progressive bona fides are important, Tatishe Nteta, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, remarked that it’s a much more progressive electorate. Nteta pointed out that Markey talks constantly about the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. “And what he’s doing is reminding voters here in Massachusetts of those progressive bona fides,” Nteta said.

Markey has the backing of big names. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley held a rally for him in Boston. Even groups like the High School Democrats of America and the College Democrats of America have endorsed the 80-year-old senator.

The Final Tally

Markey faces Moulton in one of the final primaries of the 2026 election cycle. The state is deeply blue, so the primary winner is likely the general election winner.

Moulton has struggled with perceptions of being too moderate. He faced backlash for past views on transgender athletes in sports. He also has not matched Markey’s support for government-run healthcare.

Per the Washington Times, younger Democrats are divided. Some want a fresh face. Others believe policy matters more than youth. As Tatishe Nteta put it, “If you look at Ed Markey on the campaign trail, you cannot help but notice every time he talks about two things: his support for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.”

The voters will decide if experience beats youth. They will decide if progressive loyalty outweighs the need for new leadership. One thing is clear: the old guard is not going down without a fight.