In a battle of the ages, the old veteran came out on top. Sen. Ed Markey, who turned 80 years old in July, soundly defeated Democratic primary challenger Seth Moulton on Tuesday, bringing home 74.2% of the Democratic vote over Moulton’s 25.8%, in a landslide victory, according to early results. The Associated Press called the race at about 8:30 p.m. The matchup has garnered national attention ...

Ed Markey, D- Mass., addresses supporters during a rally for his reelection campaign at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 headquarters on Aug. 29, 2026, in Boston.

Paul Connors/Boston Herald/TNS

In a battle of the ages, the old veteran came out on top.

Sen. Ed Markey, who turned 80 years old in July, soundly defeated Democratic primary challenger Seth Moulton on Tuesday, bringing home 74.2% of the Democratic vote over Moulton’s 25.8%, in a landslide victory, according to early results.

The Associated Press called the race at about 8:30 p.m.

The matchup has garnered national attention as just one thing separated the ideologically locked candidates throughout the race: age.

Moulton focused his campaign on promoting himself as the “fresh face” Capitol Hill needs to replace the aging establishment – a group epitomized by Markey, who has served in Congress for over 50 years, first being elected to the U.S. House in 1976 – two years before Moulton was born.

Markey countered this by highlighting the need for someone with his experience in Washington, while also pushing his record of fighting for liberal Democratic values during his lengthy tenure. The aging senator paired this defense with his several high-profile endorsements from the nation’s leading progressive figureheads, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, among others.

With no real political differences between them, the two resorted to mudslinging, tossing out accusations of insider trading and accepting campaign donations from corporate PACs. The lack of partisanship led the candidates to primarily resorting to criticizing President Trump, with Markey and Moulton mentioning the president frequently during their three summertime debates.

“We entered this race as an underdog and know the outcome tonight might not be what we had hoped for. We ran a race that stood on principle – that wasn’t just about politics as usual – and that elevated the voices of Massachusetts citizens who have been left behind by the status quo in Washington. I am proud of the race we ran, the culture our campaign built, and the conversations we started. Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn’t easy, but it is necessary. I will continue to push the Democratic Party – and our country – to look towards the future,” Moulton said in his concession speech.

“I spoke to Senator Markey tonight and pledged that I will do everything I can to help him win reelection in November, to ensure a Democrat represents the state we both love,” he said.

Markey moves on to face Republican candidate John Deaton and Communist candidate Joe Tache in the general election.

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