Democrats’ generational battle erupts as 80-year-old senator faces younger challenger

Massachusetts is the latest battleground in the political fight between the left and the center for the future of the Democratic Party.

But in a flip of the script, progressives are supporting the longtime incumbent against a more moderate challenger as solidly blue Massachusetts holds primary elections on Tuesday.

The Senate nomination showdown between 80-year-old Sen. Ed Markey and 47-year-old Rep. Seth Moulton is also the latest faceoff in the Democratic Party’s push for generational change, which was fueled two years ago by then-81-year-old President Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race amid questions over his physical and mental stamina following a disastrous debate performance against Trump.

There’s a six-way scrum to succeed Moulton in the U.S. House, and four members of the state’s all-Democrat congressional delegation, including House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, are facing challenges from the left. And Bay State Republicans will choose a gubernatorial nominee to challenge Democratic Gov. Maura Healey.

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But taking center stage on Tuesday is the battle between Markey and Moulton.

Markey, who served 37 years in the House before winning election in the Senate in 2013, is backed by progressive champions Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who seven years ago teamed up with Markey to co-sponsor the Green New Deal.

The senator is vowing to keep fighting for a left-wing agenda that along with the Green New Deal includes Medicare for All, a Trans Bill of Rights, taxing billionaires, and slashing military spending.

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Moulton, a Marine Corps combat veteran, is backed by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Naval Academy graduate who piloted helicopters, and recently landed the endorsement of the Boston Globe, the state’s largest daily newspaper

Moulton has made generational change a centerpiece of his primary challenge,

“I served with some of the most amazing leaders in my life in the Marines, but at 23 years old, they don’t get to run for Congress,” Moulton said at last week’s final debate. “I think we should have upper age limits as well.”

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Markey responded, “I think everyone watching this debate can see that I’m more energized than I’ve ever been before and in my life.”

“Congressman Moulton has a hard time keeping up with me,” the senator added.

But Markey seemed unclear of the topic when asked whether he uses A.I. platforms like Claude or ChatGPT in his work. The senator answered that he uses “whatever is inside of my iPhone or my iPad — whatever comes up.”

The two rivals agree on many issues, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and allowing biological males to participate in female sports. But Moulton during the primary campaign was forced to apologize for his past remarks that he did not want his young daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.”

Markey was the clear polling and fundraising frontrunner heading into the primary election.

The winner will be considered the overwhelming favorite to win the general election against attorney John Deaton, the presumptive Republican Senate nominee.

Six candidates are facing off in the battle to succeed Moulton for the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District, including former Andover Selectman Dan Koh, financial technology executive John Beccia and state Rep. Tram Nguyen.

Koh, who served in then-President Joe Biden’s administration, is showcasing endorsements from Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Micah Q. Jones, who is unopposed for the nomination.

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Among the incumbents facing primary challenges from the left is Clark, who is the second-ranking Democrat in the House. So is longtime Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch, who is working to fend off a challenge from attorney Patrick Roath, who out-raised the incumbent.

In the race for the Republican nomination for governor, Army veteran, businessman, and former CEO Mike Minogue is facing off against Briani Shortsleeve, a Marine Corps veteran, businessman and chief administrator and a former acting general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Minogue has the backing of the Massachusetts GOP.

The winner will face an uphill climb in the general election against Healey in a state dominated by Democrats but where Republicans have had success in gubernatorial showdowns.

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Tuesday’s primary could potentially be the last under the current system.

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That’s because Massachusetts voters will decide during the general election on a ballot initiative that would get rid of the state’s current primary system and replace it with a single, all-party primary.

Under that system, the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.