Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey has been in Congress since before primary-race challenger Seth Moulton was born. Our video report looks at generational tension in the midterms.
Aug. 31, 2026, 5:00 a.m. ET
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Malden and Saugus, Mass.
Generational change in Congress has been a big theme of this November’s midterm elections. In Connecticut, for example, veteran Democratic Rep. John Larson, a baby boomer in his late 70s, lost his primary on Aug. 11 to Luke Bronin, the 40-something ex-mayor of Hartford.
Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California is retiring from Congress at the end of this term. So is another former top House Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland. Both are in their 80s.
Now, in Massachusetts, a Generation X member of Congress – Seth Moulton – is trying to unseat a baby boom senator – Ed Markey – in the Democratic primary on Sept. 1. Check out the accompanying video (click the play button above or at this link) to see our report.
Senator Markey, an octogenarian, has been in politics most of his adult life. He was first elected to the House in 1976, and served there for 37 years before joining the Senate, where he’s now going for his third six-year term.
One interesting twist in this race: It’s the older candidate, Mr. Markey, who’s more liberal. Mr. Moulton, a Marine Corps combat veteran, is more center-left. Mr. Markey, for example, co-authored the Green New Deal with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist from New York.
Polls show Senator Markey comfortably ahead in his primary race, but there are no guarantees. One issue where he differed with Mr. Moulton was on transgender women competing in women’s sports. A couple of years ago, Mr. Moulton said he didn’t want his young daughters “getting run over” by biological males on the playing field. Now he’s changed his tune, and agrees with Mr. Markey that transgender women should be allowed to play in girls’ and women’s sports.
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Mr. Moulton is now more in line with liberal Democratic views on that issue, but he also loses credibility for not standing by his beliefs, critics say.
The Monitor talked to voters in Malden, Massachusetts – Senator Markey’s hometown – and Saugus, a blue-collar suburb north of Boston that Mr. Moulton represents in the House and which voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Their comments represented the range of thought on the two candidates: the desire for new ideas and generational change, but also an appreciation for having an experienced senator in place who can use his seniority to help the commonwealth.
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