Seth Moulton

The debate largely centered around the candidates’ different visions around the direction of the Democratic party, both in terms of generation and policy.

While Markey led in the polls at the beginning of the race, recent surveys have found Moulton gaining ground.

Much of the conversation revolved around the need for new leaders versus how much experience matters.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., clashed in the first U.S. Senate Democratic primary debate on July 8 that largely centered around the candidates’ different visions around the direction of the Democratic Party, both in terms of generation and policy.

From the beginning of the race, Moulton has tried to frame the race around Markey's age and a need for new leaders. Moulton is 47, while Markey turns 80 on July 11. Moulton continued this line of attack in the debate, while Markey emphasized his experience and progressive ideology.

While Markey handily led in the polls at the beginning of the race, recent surveys have found Moulton gaining ground. A June 30 poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found that 41% of Democratic primary voters said they would vote for Markey if the race was held today, compared to 35% for Moulton. It followed a May Emerson College poll that found Markey leading Moulton by just five points.

The two candidates spoke for an hour in Chicopee in a 22News debate moderated by Patrick Berry. A panel of journalists posed questions from high-speed rail to Haitian Temporary Protected Status.

The primary is set for Sept. 1.

Here are three main takeaways from the debate:

Something new vs experience

Moulton has focused much of his campaign on a need for a “new generation” in the Senate, and he continued to hit that point in the debate.

“This is not about being critical of age, it's about the fact that we need new ideas and a new playbook, because the 50-year-old playbook is just not delivering for our country,” Moulton said.

Markey argued that his ideas are young and emphasized that his senior position in Congress will allow him to make tangible impacts. If Democrats win back control of the Senate, Markey will be the chair of the Senate Health Committee.

“Experience is not the opposite of change,” Markey said. “Experience is what you use to create change.”

Markey has served in Congress for 50 years, but neither candidate is a newcomer: Moulton has served six terms (12 years) in the House. Yet Moulton said that he has a track record of running against the establishment: the first time he ran for Congress, he defeated a nine-term incumbent. He also said he’s not afraid to fight back against his own party, adding that he would not vote for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Throughout the debate, Moulton painted himself as a “fighter,” and repeatedly mentioned his work to flip the Senate through Serve America, an organization that recruits national service veterans running for office.

“Absolutely, we need to fight for these people, but we need a progressive Senate,” Markey said.

Differences in policy

Throughout the debate, Markey sought to highlight the ideological differences between him and Moulton.

Markey is generally thought of as the more progressive candidate in the race, a lane that helped him win re-election over former Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., in 2020. He hammered that point in the debate Wednesday as well.

“There is a clear choice in this race. I support Medicare for all. Congressman Moulton does not. I support taxing millionaires to provide for the education for the transportation system in our Commonwealth Congressman Moulton does not,” Markey said.

Moulton said that he supports universal health care, but that he doesn’t want everyone to lose their private insurance, and that a wealth tax is “fundamental to my affordability agenda.”

Markey also highlighted his endorsements from the Human Rights Campaign, the Christopher Street Project and other LGBTQ organizations, as well as his work to protect transgender kids.

Moulton has faced pushback for statements he made in a New York Times article following the 2024 election in which he said he didn’t want his daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.” However, he also condemned the Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing states to ban transgender athletes.

“Let me be clear to anyone out there listening tonight, anyone in the LGBTQ community, or anyone else, I stand with you because I always stand with, stood with you, and I have seen the pain that you were going through because of this hateful Trump administration,” Moulton said.

Transparency and showing up

Both candidates hit each other over their finances: Markey criticized Moulton for investing in companies tied to the defense sector (Moulton serves on the House Armed Services Committee) while Moulton challenged Markey to disclose his own family’s finances.

Moulton has been attacking Markey on what he sees as him “hiding,” both financially and from campaigning. Moulton said that he is hitting his 50th town hall Wednesday evening, while Markey has only held one.

Markey, in response, said that he has only invested in mutual funds. He highlighted his endorsements from mayors all around the state, including those in Moulton’s district.