Abandoning Core Beliefs Fails To Save Seth Moulton From Humiliating Loss

Moulton Loses Massachusetts Democratic Senate Primary to Incumbent Markey

Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, was defeated by Sen. Ed Markey in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts on Tuesday. With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Moulton trailed by approximately 30 percentage points.

Moulton, a former Marine and three-time Harvard graduate who has represented Massachusetts’s Sixth Congressional District since 2015, launched his Senate campaign in late 2025. The effort lasted 10 and a half months, longer than his 2020 presidential campaign, which ended after four months. He received the endorsement of the Boston Globe but did not advance.

Markey, 80, has held the seat since 2013. The outcome aligns with patterns in which sitting senators have prevailed in recent primaries. It also illustrates the challenges moderate candidates have faced in Democratic primaries in the state.

Moulton’s record includes positions on several policy areas that differed from statements made during the Senate campaign. On economic issues, Moulton holds an MBA from Harvard and, during his 2019 presidential run, stated he was “not a socialist” and described certain tax increases on high earners as “class warfare.” He has not cosponsored two pieces of legislation that would raise taxes on higher-income individuals. During the Senate campaign, Moulton proposed a $3.5 trillion tax increase that included a national wealth tax on individuals with assets above a certain threshold.

On Israel policy, Moulton issued statements after the October 7, 2023, attacks expressing support for Israel’s right to defend itself. He described a letter from Harvard student organizations as “intellectually weak and morally repugnant” and criticized then-Harvard president Claudine Gay for responses to questions about antisemitism. In the Senate campaign, Moulton declined contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and said he would return prior donations from the organization; records indicate he returned funds received in the 2026 cycle.

On cultural issues, Moulton gave an interview to the New York Times in November 2024 in which he said Democrats might benefit from taking a less uniform stance on participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, citing concerns for his two daughters. During an August 3, 2026, debate in the Senate race, Moulton apologized for those remarks, stating they were not intended to cause harm. He noted his sponsorship of legislation referred to as the transgender bill of rights, repeated cosponsorship of the Equality Act, and a 100 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Voter surveys and primary results showed Markey maintaining a consistent lead. Moulton’s campaign emphasized differences in age and generational perspective, while Markey highlighted his legislative record on climate and health care. Turnout in the primary was consistent with recent off-year Democratic contests in Massachusetts.

Moulton has not announced future plans. He previously expressed interest in high-speed rail policy and veterans’ issues.