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· collected 2026-08-31 · by Robert Yoon The Associated Press
analysis
Massachusetts Democrats are holding a state primary on Tuesday to decide between incumbent Senator Ed Markey, who has been endorsed by several top progressives including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and challenger Representative Seth Moulton, a six-term congressman backed by The Boston Globe. Markey, 80, is seeking his third full term and has raised and spent over $8 million compared to Moulton's $6 million. The primary contest pits progressives against moderates, with top progressives backing the incumbent. Middlesex County, which is home to Cambridge and Newton and has the largest population in Massachusetts, is a key battleground in the election.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Massachusetts Democrats will decide the latest head-to-head matchup between the party’s moderate and progressive wings in a state primary Tuesday, but this time, top progressives are backing the incumbent against a more moderate challenger.
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progressives → decide → challenger
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey faces a competitive Democratic primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton in his bid for a third full term.
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Markey → face → term
The contest ties together two recurring themes in Democratic primaries this year: progressives vs. moderates, and longtime incumbents vs. significantly younger challengers.
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contest → tie → challengers
Bay State voters will also choose nominees for U.S. House, governor, and a variety of state and local offices.
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voters → choose → offices
Markey, who turned 80 in July, is the second-oldest sitting U.S. senator seeking reelection in 2026.
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who → turn → 2026
He took the seat in 2013 after serving nearly 37 years in the House.
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He → take → House
He last faced a competitive primary in 2020, when he defeated then-U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, 55% to 45%.
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he → face → III
Moulton is a six-term congressman who briefly sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
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who → seek → nomination
He will turn 48 in October.
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He → turn → October
Markey has had a slight financial advantage over the course of the campaign, raising and spending more than $8 million compared with more than $6 million for Moulton.
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Markey → have → Moulton
Moulton had a slight advantage in cash-on-hand as of Aug. 12.
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Moulton → have → Aug.
A majority of delegates to the state party convention in May voted to endorse Markey for reelection, but Moulton won enough support to qualify for Tuesday’s ballot.
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Moulton → vote → ballot
Markey’s other key backers include U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, as well as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
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backers → include → York
Moulton was endorsed by The Boston Globe.
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Moulton → endorse → Globe
He also has the support of several of his current and former Democratic House colleagues, including New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
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He → have → Sherrill
Massachusetts has 14 counties, although elections are conducted at the city and town level.
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elections → have → level
Suffolk County is home to Boston and is surrounded by Middlesex, Essex and Norfolk counties, which together comprise most of the Boston suburbs.
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which → surround → suburbs
Middlesex County, which is home to Cambridge, Newton, Somerville and Markey’s hometown of Malden, has the largest population in the commonwealth.
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which → have → commonwealth
In his 2020 primary victory over Kennedy, Markey swept all four counties, which comprised about 61% of the total primary vote.
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which → sweep → vote
He also carried most of western Massachusetts, as well as Cape Cod and the islands in the southeast.
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He → carry → southeast
Kennedy carried much of central Massachusetts, including Worcester County, the second most populous in the state.
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Kennedy → carry → state
He also won Bristol and Plymouth counties in the southeast.
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He → win → southeast
Moulton will likely need to replicate or improve upon Kennedy’s success in these areas.
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Moulton → need → areas
To defeat Markey, he’ll also need to eat into the incumbent’s advantage in the Boston area.
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he → defeat → area
Most of the county is in Moulton’s 6th Congressional District and it includes his hometown of Salem.
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it → include → Salem
Markey beat Kennedy in Essex County by a 9-point margin.
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Markey → beat → margin
The 6th Congressional District also has a competitive Democratic primary underway to succeed Moulton.
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primary → have → Moulton
The six-way contest includes former Andover Selectman Dan Koh, financial technology executive John Beccia and state Rep. Tram Nguyen.
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contest → include → Koh
Koh has endorsements from both former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Koh → have → Biden
He previously served in the Biden White House and was the top aide to Marty Walsh in his stints as Boston mayor and U.S. secretary of labor.
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He → serve → labor
In 2018, Koh ran for Congress in the neighboring 3rd District but narrowly lost the primary to now-U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who has endorsed Nguyen.
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who → run → Nguyen
Koh leads the field in fundraising, with about $4.7 million in contributions.
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Koh → lead → contributions
Tram was second in contributions with about $895,000 raised, but Beccia leapfrogged her in overall spending power thanks to the $4 million he loaned his campaign.
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he → raise → million
The winner will face Republican Micah Q. Jones, who is unopposed for the nomination.
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who → face → nomination
In the 8th Congressional District, 13-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch faces a strong challenge from attorney Patrick Roath, who has outraised the incumbent.
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who → face → incumbent
Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:
When do polls close?
Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.
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close → monitor → ET
What’s on the ballot?
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What → ’ → ballot
The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, Governor’s Council, state Senate, state House and district attorney in Norfolk and Suffolk counties.
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Press → provide → counties
Who gets to vote?
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Who → get → ?
Registered party members may vote only in their own party’s primary.
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members → vote → primary
…and 22 more, not listed.
