Sen. Markey’s Potential Dem Opponents

Massachusetts Democrats Ready for a Primary Showdown

Last week, Massachusetts US Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Newton), after publicly contemplating launching a primary challenge to Sen. Ed Markey (D), announced that he would forgo a statewide bid in order to seek re-election in the 4th District. The Senator, however, has not necessarily avoided a primary challenge.

On successive days toward the end of this week, two other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation indicated that each is also thinking of challenging Sen. Markey. Six-term US Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) confirms that he is “seriously considering” running for the Senate. 

The day after Mr. Moulton made public his comments, four-term US Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Boston) said that she, too, is weighing her chances of potentially challenging Sen. Markey.

Ed Markey was first elected to Congress in 1976, after serving two terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He remained in the House until winning the US Senate special election in 2013 when then-Sen. John Kerry (D) resigned to become US Secretary of State in the second Obama Administration. Mr. Markey was then elected to a full term in 2014 and re-elected in 2020.

All indications suggest that the 79-year-old veteran politician will seek re-election, thus continuing his consecutive streak of holding elected office that began with his first political victory in 1972.

In the 2020 election, Sen. Markey also faced a Democratic primary challenge. This one came from then-US Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy, III, grandnephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, and grandson to the late US Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Obviously, a challenge from a Kennedy family member in Massachusetts means a serious political battle, and the 2020 Democratic primary proved the case. Yet, Sen. Markey defeated the Kennedy legacy with a 55-45% victory after trailing in early polling.

Seth Moulton is a twice-decorated Marine Corps Iraq War veteran, serving in the military for eight years and leaving the service with the rank of Captain. He was first elected in 2014, defeating four term incumbent John Tierney in the Democratic primary. He has generally voted the party positions, but has strayed from the liberal position on certain issues. 

Rep. Moulton recently stated his opposition to men playing in women’s sports, particularly because it directly affected his young daughters. The Democratic left flank waged an attack against Moulton for his comments and threatened to field a primary challenger against him. Obviously, such a congressional primary would be avoided if the Representative moves into the Senate race. 

On the other hand, Rep. Moulton has been threatened with primary challenges before, but none have materialized. He certainly would be favored for renomination and re-election if he decides to remain in the House.

Ayanna Pressley, an avowed member of the House Democratic “Squad,” yesterday indicated that she is considering launching a primary challenge to Sen. Markey. She would command support from the party’s far left, but would have trouble breaking into the climate caucus segment since Sen. Markey has been one of the key leaders on environmental issues during his entire congressional career. 

Should both enter the race, it is likely that Sen. Markey would prevail because Moulton and Pressley would split the anti-Markey vote with Moulton getting the more moderate Democratic voter and Pressley relegated to the far left within the primary participant universe. She would also have a base within minority communities, particularly in Boston. Under this scenario, neither Moulton nor Pressley would likely be able to push past Markey in an electoral system that allows plurality finishes.

Sen. Markey has won 22 consecutive elections in his career and must be rated as the favorite in another Democratic primary contest irrespective of who challenges him, and how many. It also would not be surprising to see both of these House members decide against making the challenge in order to return to their safe seats.

Regardless of what happens in this race, the final candidate decisions will consume a great deal of time. The candidate filing deadline is not until August 25 for a very late September 15, 2026, Democratic primary election.