Massachusetts voters head to the polls this Tuesday for the 2026 primary election. A central contest features 80-year-old progressive U.S. Senator Ed Markey and 47-year-old U.S. Representative Seth Moulton for a Senate seat.
The race centers on generational change, with Moulton arguing that the incumbent is too old to serve another term. This challenge mirrors a broader trend in the 2026 midterms, where younger Democrats have targeted and sometimes unseated longtime incumbents they view as avatars of an outmoded cautious establishment.
Despite the age gap, both candidates maintain similar progressive platforms. In the heavily Democratic state, this primary is considered crucial, as the winner is expected to prevail in the general election this November.