Democrats Markey, Moulton seek primary win in Massachusetts

Sept. 1 (UPI) — Voters in Massachusetts are heading to the polls Tuesday to vote in the 2026 primary elections, deciding between Democrats Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton as a candidate for the Senate seat.

Markey, 80, is a two-term senator who first entered Congress in 1976 and was elected to the Senate in 2013. He’s been a champion of progressive causes and has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Moulton, 47, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014. He ran a brief campaign for president in 2020 and has been active in recruiting and training Democratic candidates through the Serve America organization.

The winner will face Republican John Deaton in November. Massachusetts tends to vote heavily Democratic.

In other races, incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch, 71 — the last remaining House Democrat to vote against the Affordable Care Act — is facing challenger Patrick Routh in the 8th Congressional District of the House.

Lynch, a moderate who has been in office for 25 years, has described himself as “pro-life” and has voted in favor of some of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Routh, 39, a Boston attorney, is a more progressive candidate whose campaign has spent more than $1 million in the race against Lynch.

Six Democrats are running for Moulton’s 6th Congressional District seat in the House: Bethany Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Jamie Belsito, Dan Koh, Mariah Lancaster and Tram Nguyen.

Koh, a former White House aide for former President Joe Biden, has been endorsed by Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris and five Biden Cabinet secretaries. Nguyen, considered to be his main competitor, is a state legislator who is appealing to progressive voters and has endorsements from Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Lori Trahan.

Republican candidates Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve are competing in the Republican primary for governor. Minogue has been endorsed by the party. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Gov. Maura Healey.