Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in the Tuesday, Sept. 1, Democratic Senate primary, carrying Lexington with 61 percent of the vote as turnout surged to its highest level since 2022.
Markey won roughly 64 percent statewide to Moulton's 35 percent, according to the Lexington Observer. The Associated Press called the race at 8:31 p.m. Sept. 1 with only about 2 percent of ballots counted.
In Lexington, early results showed Markey received 3,816 votes to Moulton's 2,397. A total of 6,972 Lexington voters cast ballots, about 30 percent of registered voters. That's the highest since 2022, when turnout hit 29 percent. The 2024 state primary drew just 22 percent.
Lexington Town Meeting Member Kunal Botla, who served as a fellow on Markey's field organizing team, stood on stage behind the senator during his victory speech at the Omni Parker House in Boston on Sept. 1. Botla wrote afterward that the results sent a clear message.
"In Massachusetts and across the nation, we need leaders, like Sen. Markey, who don't back down," Botla wrote to the Lexington Observer on Sept. 2.
Hundreds of supporters hoisted rainbow-colored campaign signs as Markey, 80, took the stage. He was introduced by State Sen. Lydia Edwards and Tyler Hack, executive director of the Christopher Street Project, a transgender-rights nonprofit.
Moulton, 47, and his allies outspent Markey's side $7.1 million to $3.9 million on advertising, according to AdImpact data reported by NBC News. Markey countered with endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A final Emerson College poll before the primary showed Markey leading 60 percent to 33 percent among likely Democratic voters, with voters under 40 breaking decisively his way, MS Now reported.
Moulton said in a written statement after the race was called that he was proud of the campaign he ran and would continue pushing the Democratic Party toward a focus on the future.
Markey has said he will not seek a fourth term if reelected, CNN reported. He advances to the Nov. 3 general election against Republican John Deaton and is heavily favored by the Cook Political Report to hold the seat.
Down-ballot results
Rep. Katherine Clark, the House Democratic Whip, won the MA 5th Congressional District primary with about 74 percent of the vote. Challengers Jonathan Paz took roughly 20 percent and Tarik Samman about 7 percent.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan turned back a primary challenge from former prosecutor David Solet. In Lexington, Ryan collected 4,254 votes to Solet's 1,190. Ryan has held the office since 2013, according to the Boston Herald. She faces no Republican opponent and is the presumptive winner in November.
On the Republican side, Mike Minogue won the gubernatorial primary with about 76 percent of the vote over Brian Shortsleeve. In Lexington, Minogue took about 66 percent of Republican ballots, or 460 votes, to Shortsleeve's roughly 31 percent. Minogue will face incumbent Gov. Maura Healey in November.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
