Massachusetts Democrats Back Markey, Put Moulton on Ballot

Massachusetts Democrats set up their Senate primary at the party's convention in Worcester on Saturday, decisively endorsing Sen. Ed Markey for reelection while also putting Rep. Seth Moulton on the September ballot. And they heard a preview, WCVB reports, with Markey touting progressive policy goals and Moulton telling the more than 4,000 delegates that a generational shift is needed. "You have a choice, you have to decide what the future looks like and what you're going to demand," Markey said. In his nomination speech, Moulton argued that the party needs more than "incremental change" and must start anew, per the AP.

Markey won the support of 73% of the delegates to Moulton's 27%—keeping Markey the clear frontrunner, per WCVB. The incumbent pitched a progressive platform built around Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, free public college, universal child care, and dismantling ICE. Moulton countered with a call for "a new playbook" and a younger wave of Democratic leaders to take on President Trump. "It's time for the generation that grew up with the internet, and will have to live for decades with AI, to lead our way through it," Moulton said. Markey, who's in his fifth term, will turn 80 before the general election winner takes office.