Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey pledged that his next term will be his final one if he wins reelection, making the commitment following his first debate with Rep. Seth Moulton on July 8, 2026. “I need one more term to finish the agenda, this progressive agenda, and then I will step down,” the 79-year-old Democrat said after the Springfield debate.
Markey’s pledge comes as he faces a challenging Democratic primary on September 1, 2026, against Moulton, who has centered his campaign on generational change and the incumbent’s age. At the end of a six-year term, Markey would be 86 years old.
“We need Medicare for all, we need the Green New Deal, we need to make sure that we are fighting for every family who is out there who justifiably feels like they have been left behind,” Markey said, citing the agenda he wants to complete. Moulton, 47, responded that voters are asking “what are you going to do differently in the next six years from what you’ve done in the last 50,” according to WCVB reporting.
Markey has represented Massachusetts in Congress since 1976, first in the House and then in the Senate since 2013. He was re-elected in 2020 with 66.2 percent of the vote. His decision to pledge a final term addresses a central line of attack in Moulton’s campaign, which emphasizes the need for new leadership and a younger generation of Democrats.
During the debate, the two candidates also clashed over Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and their records on housing and defense spending. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican John Deaton in the November general election, which the Cook Political Report rates as safe for Democrats.
Sources
- WCVB — Sen. Markey’s pledge and debate details with Rep. Moulton in Springfield on July 8, 2026
- Wikipedia — Markey’s career history, 2020 election result, and Democratic primary date
- The New York Times — Markey first elected to Congress in 1976, primary challenge from Moulton
