Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
New Emerson College poll shows Markey leading just 37-32% after holding a 47-30% edge last month
By Brie Stimson Fox News
Published May 9, 2026 5:14pm EDT
A new poll shows the race tightening for the Democratic primary in Massachusetts, with challenger Rep. Seth Moulton closing in on Sen. Ed Markey.
The race is one of the most hotly contested primaries in the country, with the more progressive Markey having led by as much as 20 points in previous polls, according to Axios.
Markey, 79, who has held his seat since 2013, has the backing of the Democratic establishment, with the 47-year-old congressman looking to unseat him.
Just last month, Markey comfortably led Moulton 47-30% in a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll, according to Boston.com.
Markey has the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, while Moulton, who is considered more centrist, has been endorsed by groups like VoteVets PAC and the Massachusetts Teamsters.
In the new Emerson College poll that shows Markey leading Mouton 37-32%, 29% of voters remain undecided. Only 2% of voters back other candidates in the race.
"Senator Markey leads the Democratic primary by 13 points among registered Democrats, while Rep. Moulton holds a 38% to 32% edge among unenrolled voters," Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said. "Markey leads women 37% to 29%, while men are essentially split, with 38% backing Moulton and 37% Markey."
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