Moulton to take on incumbent Markey in Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary

Politics Rep. Seth Moulton to take on Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary May 30, 2026 / 5:51 PM EDT / AP Add CBS News on Google U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a moderate Massachusetts Democrat, secured enough delegate support Saturday to appear on the state's primary ballot as he challenges incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in this year's Senate race.Yet even though Moulton cleared a key hurdle to continue his Senate bid, it was Markey who won the party's endorsement after winning more than 50% of the delegation's support."You have a choice, you have to decide what the future looks like and what you're going to demand," Markey said Saturday in front of more than 4,000 delegates.The Massachusetts primary is Sept. 1. Markey won nearly 73% of the delegates' support, while Moulton won nearly 27% of the vote. Massachusetts Democratic Party rules require statewide candidates to get at least 15% of delegate support to appear on primary ballots.In heavily Democratic Massachusetts, the Senate primary contest is one of the most closely watched in the country as Moulton, 47, has centered his campaign on changing the status quo and demanding a generational shift in leadership. If reelected, Markey would be 80 before his third six-year term would begin. While Markey has touted his stamina and embrace of progressive policies, questions about age have continued to swirl around Democratic candidates as they fight to take back control of Congress. In his nomination speech, Moulton argued that the Democratic Party needed more than "incremental change" and needed to start anew."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.Moulton only addressed his opponent briefly during his nomination speech, giving a passing nod on not waiting another six years for generational change and later calling on Markey to participate in multiple debates before the September primary. Curren...