80-year-old Dem beats back generational challenge after going all-in on trans athletes

One of the only Democrats stumping for transgender rights on the campaign trail fought back a younger challenger pushing generational change in the Senate.

Sen.

Ed Markey, D-Mass., withstood a challenge from Rep.

Seth Moulton, D-Mass., to again be crowned as Massachusetts’ Democratic nominee for Senate in his quest for a third full term on Tuesday night.

The Associated Press projected Markey would defeat Moulton less than an hour after polls closed.

Markey, who has represented Massachusetts in Congress for nearly five decades, survived Moulton’s campaign focused on generational change by leaning into his progressive bona fides.

Notably, he is one of the few Democrats running this midterm cycle who is continuing to push for transgender rights, particularly in sports.

TOP 5 MOST HEATED MOMENTS AS PROGRESSIVES SPAR OVER WHO IS FURTHER TO THE LEFT IN FINAL DEM SENATE DEBATE "Trans athletes should be able to play," Markey told The New York Times.

"That reflects Massachusetts and who we are.

And Seth Moulton does not." The position, which has been used by Republicans as a political rallying cry on the campaign trail and one that Democrats have largely remained quiet about as they push to flip both chambers of Congress, is one that Moulton argued played a major factor in Democrats’ losing across the board in 2024.

"I have two little girls, I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I’m supposed to be afraid to say that," Moulton said at the time.

DEMOCRATS STAY QUIET ON NEXT STEPS AFTER SUPREME COURT TRANSGENDER SPORTS RULING Given Massachusetts’ position as a deep-blue bastion — the Bay State hasn’t had a Republican senator since 2013; former Sen.

Scott Brown lost to Sen.

Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. — it’s unlikely that Markey’s position will cost him in November.