Democratic Senator Ed Markey has won the Senate primary in Massachusetts, according to projections by NBC News, marking a significant victory for the progressive wing of the party. With nearly 50 percentage points leading in the polls and only 2% of the expected votes counted, Markey, an 80-year-old senator, has successfully defended his seat against Rep. Seth Moulton. Markey emphasized his long-standing liberal record, including being a key author of the Green New Deal and a strong advocate for "Medicare for All." This result contrasts with recent trends where several long-serving Democratic lawmakers have been ousted by younger, more progressive candidates in primaries. Markey first entered the Senate in 2013 after nearly four decades in the House of Representatives. Moulton, a 47-year-old congressman, campaigned on a platform of generational change, a theme that has seen some House Democrats lose their seats this year. Despite having a financial advantage, with $7.1 million spent on ads compared to Markey's $3.9 million, Moulton's campaign was unable to overcome the senator's strong support base. This makes Markey’s victory notable, as he faced a well-funded challenge. Moulton attempted to challenge Markey by suggesting that his opponent was too old to be effective in office, a point that resonated with some voters amid concerns about the age of current leaders, especially following Joe Biden’s re-election bid and Kamala Harris’s loss in the 2024 election. In other parts of the country, Democratic voters have also turned to younger, progressive candidates who promised to take different stances on issues such as support for Israel. Markey, however, received strong backing from top progressive figures, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Moulton, who first won election to a northeastern Massachusetts district in 2014, has not supported single-payer healthcare proposals. Recently, he apologized for comments he made after the 2024 election, in which he expressed discomfort with the idea of his daughters being on a playing field with male or formerly male athletes. These comments were made in the context of Donald Trump's campaign to limit transgender rights, a stance that contributed to his victory. The issue of a lawmaker's age and effectiveness was a major topic during a debate between the two candidates in August, with polls indicating that Markey had a significant lead over Moulton. With Massachusetts being a heavily Democratic state, Markey is expected to win a third full term in the November general election, facing Republican nominee John Deaton.