What to know about the US primary election in Massachusetts

Key Points:

• Massachusetts voters will participate in a primary election on September 1, 2026, featuring a high-profile US Senate race between incumbent progressive Senator Ed Markey and moderate challenger Representative Seth Moulton.
• The Senate contest highlights a generational and ideological divide within the Democratic Party, with Moulton emphasizing the need for younger leadership familiar with emerging technologies like AI.
• Markey, aged 80, defends his legislative record on technology regulation and has earned endorsements from prominent progressives including Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Elizabeth Warren.
• Other key Democratic primaries include the 6th District race to replace Moulton, with frontrunner Dan Koh backed by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and the 8th District contest where incumbent Stephen Lynch faces a progressive challenger.
• Polling shows Markey holding a strong lead over Moulton, with 60% support compared to Moulton’s 32%, indicating a likely advantage for the incumbent in the upcoming primary.