U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) is forgoing re-election to Congress to launch a 2026 Democratic primary challenge against U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, arguing the party needs “a new generation of leadership.” His move leaves Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District open for the first time since 2014.
46-year-old Moulton’s rationale centers on age and change inside the party: he says Democrats are “clinging to the old playbook” and that Markey—who would be 80 at the start of another term—should step aside. Markey’s camp has emphasized his ongoing work while the senator signals he’ll run for re-election.
The announcement immediately spurred activity on the North Shore. Dan Koh, a former White House senior aide and ex-chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, announced his candidacy in a video, the day after Moulton’s video on YouTube announcing his run for senate.
Koh previously ran for Congress in 2018 in Massachusetts’ 3rd District, where he narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Lori Trahan by just 145 votes (18,580 to 18,435) following a recount, according to Ballotpedia.
Jamie Belsito, a former state representative and Topsfield town moderator, also jumped into the race, calling herself as an unapologetic Democrat, while Beth Andres-Beck, a Middleton software engineer who had already launched a long-shot primary against Moulton, tossed her hat into the ring as well.
More names are circling. Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson has said he’s considering a run if the seat opened, and Rick Jakious, Moulton’s chief of staff, has been rumored as a potential entrant. By contrast, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll is focused on re-election, and State Sen. Brendan Crighton has ruled it out.
As the field grows, one emerging theme—echoing Moulton’s critique—is dissatisfaction with how Democrats have confronted Donald Trump’s second term. Early messaging from Belsito, Koh, and others includes calls for a more aggressive approach to democracy, affordability, and governance.
With the district considered “Safe/Solid Democratic” by most election analysts, the decisive contest is likely to be the Democratic primary, while Republicans face long odds in the general.
