Sen. Edward J. Markey, the 80-year-old progressive stalwart from Massachusetts, sailed to victory in his Democratic primary Tuesday as a pair of septuagenarian House Democrats turned back younger challengers.
With their victories, Reps. Stephen F. Lynch and Richard E. Neal avoided joining the seven House Democrats to lose primary challenges this year, mostly to progressive and younger rivals.
In the Senate race, Markey was leading Rep. Seth Moulton, whose campaign was built on a call for generational change, 65 percent to 35 percent, with 81 percent of the vote in, according to The Associated Press.
“Tonight is a testament to the power of the progressive movement of our nation,’’ Markey told supporters in Boston. “It is a progressive movement fueled by young people demanding more from their leaders, and it’s your voices that are the ones we need to hear right now. Your leadership will show us the way.”
In deep-blue Massachusetts, Markey will be heavily favored to win in November against Marine Corps veteran John Deaton, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination. Deaton was also the losing GOP nominee to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2024.
