Rep. Seth Moulton Reports Weighing 2026 Primary Challenge to Sen. Ed Markey in Massachusetts

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, a 46-year-old Marine veteran, is seriously considering a primary challenge against longtime incumbent Senator Ed Markey in Massachusetts for the 2026 Senate election. This potential race highlights a broader push within the Democratic Party for generational change, as Markey, first elected to Congress in 1976, would be 86 at the end of another Senate term. Moulton has a history of challenging party leadership and has been exploring options with campaign preparations underway, though he has not made a final decision. Markey remains a progressive stalwart, energized and committed to countering President Trump’s agenda, with endorsements from prominent Massachusetts Democrats including Elizabeth Warren and Katherine Clark. The contest is shaping up to be a significant intra-party battle reflecting tensions between the party’s older leadership and emerging younger figures. Other potential challengers, such as Representative Jake Auchincloss, have declined to run, leaving Moulton as the leading contender against Markey.