Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in Massachusetts’ Democratic U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, turning back a challenge that had made Markey’s age its central argument. The Associated Press called the race for Markey roughly 30 minutes after polls closed, when well under 5% of the vote had been counted — an early call based on statistical modeling rather than a full vote count. It held up: by the following afternoon, with 98.7% of the expected vote in, a national results tracker showed Markey ahead 64.8% to 35.2%, the same lopsided margin the early call had pointed to.
Key facts
- Winner: Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary held Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.
- Early call: The Associated Press called the race for Markey about 30 minutes after polls closed, when under 5% of the vote was counted, based on statistical modeling, not a full count.
- Most complete count so far: a national results tracker showed Markey ahead 64.8% to 35.2% with 98.7% of the expected vote counted.
- Not official: No official, certified count of the primary has been released; the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office had not published a final tally as of Sept. 2.
- General election: Markey faces Republican nominee John Deaton on Nov. 3, 2026.
- Congressional tenure: Markey has served since 1976, first in the U.S. House; he won a special election to the U.S. Senate and was sworn in July 16, 2013.
How the count moved
The lead held steady as ballots were tallied through the night, with outlets’ trackers converging on roughly the same margin as more of the vote came in:
- About 11 p.m. Tuesday (a little more than 55% counted): Markey ahead by roughly the same margin.
- 81% counted: Markey 65% – Moulton 35%, per a count citing the Associated Press.
- 96% counted: Markey 65% – Moulton 35%.
- About 96% counted: Markey 64.9% – Moulton 35.1%.
- 98.7% counted (the most complete count): Markey 64.8% – Moulton 35.2%.
None of these figures is an official, certified result; the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office had not published a final tally as of Sept. 2.
What’s confirmed, what isn’t
Markey’s win and his opponent in November are settled. A certified statewide vote total, final primary-day turnout, and the complete list of names that will appear on the November ballot are not. The one turnout figure available covers only the days before Tuesday: the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office counted 555,525 ballots already cast before polls opened — 483,946 by mail and 71,579 in person — the highest in-person early turnout for a Massachusetts primary since 2020. A full count of ballots cast on primary day itself was not available.
Moulton made Markey’s age the argument
Moulton, 47, built his campaign around Markey’s age and length of service, arguing it was “time for a new generation of leadership.” Announcing his candidacy last October, Moulton said he didn’t believe Markey “should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old,” and pointed to what he called “the lessons of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dianne Feinstein and Joe Biden.” At an Aug. 30 campaign stop, Moulton cited a debate exchange in which he told Markey that not knowing “what you’re using on your phone or your iPad” was “potentially disqualifying” for someone tasked with regulating new technology.
Markey, born July 11, 1946 and 80 years old on primary day, responded without engaging the premise. Asked about the exchange, he told PBS NewsHour: “It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s called Siri or it’s called ,” arguing that the AI-safety legislation he has introduced mattered more than familiarity with any one product.
Voters delivered a lopsided verdict on the argument. A campaign built around Markey’s age lost by roughly 30 points — a margin close to what pre-election polling had already shown. An Emerson College poll released Aug. 30, two days before the primary, had Markey ahead 65% to 35%, almost exactly the final split, suggesting the age-focused case didn’t shift the race much in its closing days.
Moulton’s concession
Moulton conceded on election night. “I just called Senator Markey to congratulate him on his victory tonight,” he said. “He has my full support as our Democratic nominee, and we must stand united this November to protect our democracy and defeat Donald Trump.”
Markey’s five decades in Congress
Markey has served in Congress since 1976, when he was first elected to the U.S. House. He remained there until 2013, when he won a special election to the U.S. Senate seat vacated when John Kerry became secretary of state; he was sworn in on July 16, 2013. That record — nearly four decades in the House followed by more than a decade in the Senate — adds up to the roughly 50 years in Congress that Moulton’s campaign repeatedly invoked.
The general election
Markey advances to face Republican nominee John Deaton on Nov. 3, 2026. Deaton ran unopposed for the GOP (the Republican Party) nomination; he previously ran for the state’s other Senate seat in 2024 and lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Reporting also identifies Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Joe Tache for the November ballot.