Democratic Senator Ed Markey secured a primary victory over Representative Seth Moulton, maintaining his seat in a contest framed by progressive policy platforms.

Democratic Senator Ed Markey defeated Representative Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Senate primary, according to NBC News projections. The victory for the 80-year-old incumbent is viewed as a win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Markey successfully defended his seat against a well-funded challenge by emphasizing his liberal record, including his work on the Green New Deal and support for Medicare for All.

Campaign Spending and Endorsements

Despite Representative Moulton and his allies holding a spending advantage, with $7.1 million spent on advertisements compared to $3.9 million by Markey and his supporters, the incumbent prevailed. Markey’s campaign was bolstered by high-profile endorsements from progressive leaders, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Policy Differences and Rhetoric

The race featured sharp disagreements over policy and rhetoric. While Moulton campaigned on the need for generational change, Markey’s campaign and supporting outside groups criticized the congressman for his past stances on liberal policies, including Medicare for All. Additionally, Markey criticized Moulton for comments regarding transgender athletes, which Moulton later apologized for during a debate.

Post-Election Unity

Following the results, Moulton confirmed he had called Markey to offer his congratulations. Moulton pledged his full support for Markey as the Democratic nominee, emphasizing the need for party unity to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.