Octogenarian was surprisingly energized, and his challenger couldn’t break through
Representative Seth Moulton was well positioned to make a serious run at Senator Ed Markey in the Democratic Senate primary. Moulton’s relative youth, military background, antiestablishment appeal, and pragmatism made him a compelling alternative to the octogenarian and staunch progressive, whose five decades as a political fixture in both Massachusetts and Washington would have seemed detrimental to his electoral chances during this anti-incumbent political season.
Despite his advanced age, however, Markey ran a surprisingly energized and effective campaign, neutralizing Moulton’s attempt to make generational change the focal point of the race (“A convincing win for Markey,” Page A1, Sept. 2). Moulton, who briefly ran for president in 2019 after serving only four years in Congress, came across as something of a political opportunist and shape-shifter, especially regarding the issue of transgender athletes, over which he unbecomingly waffled.
His underwhelming articulation of his policy agenda and failure to convincingly differentiate himself from Markey also contributed to his loss, and to the extent that many voters viewed Moulton as “Markey lite,” they resoundingly opted for the genuine article instead.
Mark Godes
Chelsea
Moulton supporter thought there was momentum, but progressivism carried the day
As a staunch Seth Moulton supporter, I am scratching my head. What happened? In midsummer I thought the campaign was charging ahead with great momentum. Was it the age factor that boomeranged? Was it his careless remark about trans athletes in 2024 that stuck with voters?
Or was it something more complex? Across the country, younger progressive candidates were defeating older liberal incumbents. But here in Massachusetts, it was Markey who was celebrated as the radical progressive, while Moulton was tagged as “mediocre” by Representative Ayanna Pressley.
I’m wondering what Moulton will do in six years — when Markey has said he would retire from the Senate — and he would have to face a crowded field of Democratic hopefuls.
Jack Nusan Porter
Newtonville
The few cities and towns that went Moulton’s way had something in common
Much post-election analysis of the contest between Senator Ed Markey and his challenger, Representative Seth Moulton, has focused on the impact of Moulton’s statements after the 2024 presidential election about trans athletes. Although his remarks did have a role in how he fared in the primary, other things were also at play. For example, in which cities and town did Moulton actually come out ahead? Just 12 of of 351 municipalities went his way, including Dover, Hamilton, Wenham, Marblehead, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Wellesley. Hmmm, what do these places all have in common?
Nancy Meacham
Swampscott