Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey Outpolling Primary Foe Seth Moulton

With many months to go before voters cast primary election ballots, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey is more than holding his own against Democratic challenger Representative Seth Moulton in an early poll of next year's race.

Markey, who will be 80 years old before the September 1, 2026, Democratic primary election, looks to survive a challenge from another, much younger member of his own party.

Five years ago, Markey shocked Democratic Congressman Joe Kennedy III to win renomination and another six-year term in the U.S. Senate. Markey hopes to do the same with Congressman Moulton, who will be 48 at the time of the primary election next year.

Markey Maintains Strong Early Lead

A new University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll has Markey on top of Moulton by 19 points (44 percent to 25 percent), with five percent for Alex Rikleen. When pollsters include respondents who are leaning, Markey leads Moulton 51 percent to 28 percent.

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What Happens If Pressley or Wu Joins the Race?

In a hypothetical primary matchup that includes Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who has not indicated an interest in running, Markey scores 31 percent, Moulton 24 percent, and Pressley gets 20 percent.

In another hypothetical race that doesn't include Markey, respondents gave Moulton the edge (26 percent), followed by Pressley (23 percent), Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (17 percent), Joe Kennedy III (nine percent), Rep. Jake Auchincloss (five percent), and Rikleen (three percent).

Of the three declared candidates (Markey, Moulton and Rikleen), respondents chose Markey to be the most liberal.

Markey’s Approval Rating Remains High

Poll respondents appear happy with the job Markey is doing, with 54 percent approving and 28 percent disapproving.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren fared even better than Markey with a 57 percent approval rating; however, Warren's disapproval rating, 35 percent, is higher than Markey's.